Comments on: Monday Musings: A Flu of Pandemic Proportions

By: Jamie

Jamie — Wed, 06 May 2009 01:55:24 +0000

The 1918 influenza pandemic killed more than 50 million! It actually killed up to 100 million people worldwide in 18 months. Have you ever thought about footnoting your sentences? That way we can verify your sources. Might be helpful to both you and the reader. . .

By: V. Higgins

V. Higgins — Tue, 05 May 2009 15:32:22 +0000

It’s good to be cautious and I’m glad that the WHO and the government are taking precautions to minimize the chance of a serious pandemic (even if it might just be serious CYA). That said…
I agree that the media has blown this crazily out of porportion. (like they do *everything else*, seriously, media fast will cut down your stress ). I always wash my hands multiple times a day, use tissues, sneeze into elbows, etc. So I tend to look at this as just another bug going around and hopefully by exercising and eating well my immune system will be able to fend it off. And even if I did catch it I wouldn’t be worried about dying, I have a great doctor and they’ve proven that Tamiflu works to bring you back around. So I really don’t see what all the hullaballo is about.
Maybe focusing on being healthy in the first place (whole foods, keeping active) would be a *much* better use of our time than worrying.

By: Joanna

Joanna — Tue, 05 May 2009 11:06:09 +0000

(Yeah! Internet's back at my house!!) Anyway ... I haven't been more worried about this type of flu than I am about any other during flu season. I wash my hands constantly anyway and hand sanitizer is always within reach. I would rather my children didn't get it, but if they do, I'm not going to start planning their funerals or anything (I'll be too busy cleaning up vomit and poop!) All that to say, I think it's been blown out of proportion, too. We had one suspected case in a middle-schooler here in town and schools are closing for a week(!) and churches canceled communion. No masks that I've seen, though! Joanna´s last blog post..Flickr

By: Heather @ alis grave nil

Heather @ alis grave nil — Tue, 05 May 2009 01:46:31 +0000

I think it must be worse out here in California. More ebb and flow with Mexico, and people were freaking out. I don't think it was merited though. I teach school and I have to say even though there's a huge chance of me catching a regular flu, I wasn't any more worried about this recent thing. Seems like media fear mongering and hype to me. Heather @ alis grave nil´s last blog post..Book smell (and a giveaway!)

By: Melody C.

Melody C. — Tue, 05 May 2009 01:36:09 +0000

Wow Michelle! You are SOOOOO right!

By: Michelle @ Find Your Balance

Michelle @ Find Your Balance — Tue, 05 May 2009 00:46:37 +0000

You know how many people die of AIDS yet people won't wear condoms? But the flu and everyone grabs a mask. Odd, huh? Michelle @ Find Your Balance´s last blog post..Homemade pockets of delicious

By: Melody C.

Melody C. — Mon, 04 May 2009 23:26:35 +0000

My bigger concern is that I’m living on an Air Force base where I will be in casual contact (shopping, gym) with people who have just come from all over the US (and beyond) and will bring germs that aren’t native to my breathing space! Worse, my husband will work in close contact with them and then come home! Boot camp flu is well known and can be dangerous, but I’m with Ambulance Mommy.

When I worked as a travel agent I constantly had to talk down fearful fliers…please, a plane crash here and there (since the 1950s) still doesn’t add up to the number of car crash fatalities on any given DAY.

By: admin

admin — Mon, 04 May 2009 22:56:48 +0000

I had no idea that the issue has been covered so much in the media – apparently I need to watch the news more. I catch snippets here and there but have no idea what’s really going on. It’s a good thing you guys are here to give me a reality check.

By: Sam

Sam — Mon, 04 May 2009 19:05:57 +0000

A friend put the stats to me this way…
Why is it that when there are only 226 confirmed cases out of a population of 306 million people that many folks assume they will fall into the smaller category?

I’m not worried, but at the same time, I feel that it doesn’t hurt for us to be a little more diligent about covering sneezes and coughs and hand washing. If anything, it will help stave off the brewing sinus infections that often follow people’s seasonal allergy flareups this time of year.

I was actually a little offended when someone declined to shake hands (even though neither of us felt ill at all) at a social gathering the other day.

By: Heidi

Heidi — Mon, 04 May 2009 18:59:36 +0000

I SECOND AMBULANCE MOMMY! G.D. MEDIA. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. See how irked I am? I'm typing in CAPS. Heidi´s last blog post..High coo!