Deadly swine flu virus in Mexico

Hey Mexico Brides, I just saw this information on webmd. I thought that it did a good job of putting the swine flu in perspective (esp with it's comparison to the regular flu). Anyways, just wanted to share it with you all. I think the second part of the article with the 7 facts is what is really great about this article.

Putting Swine Flu in Perspective

7 Facts to Consider if You're Fearful About Swine Flu

By Miranda Hitti

WebMD Medical News Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

May 1, 2009 -- Swine flu is big news. Cases are rising in the U.S. and other countries, there's no vaccine, it's a brand-new virus, and it's teetering on the brink of a pandemic.

But remember, there's no "panic" in "pandemic."

Swine flu has sickened at least 141 people in the U.S. and 365 people worldwide, according to the CDC and World Health Organization's tally of lab-confirmed swine flu cases as of Friday, May 1. But those numbers are changing all the time; the CDC and WHO web sites are updated once daily.

Swine flu is serious, for sure. But have some people crossed the fine line between reasonable concern and unwarranted alarm?

A new poll from the Harvard School of Public Health shows that of the 1,067 participants, 59% said they're washing their hands more often and using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer in light of swine flu. That's in line with CDC recommendations. And school closings are appropriate if cases are confirmed in students or staff, according to the CDC.

But that same Harvard poll shows that 17% of participants said they are avoiding Mexican restaurants or grocery stores and 13% said they thought you could get swine flu from eating pork. You can't get swine flu from eating pork or any other foods, and there is no reason to avoid Mexican restaurants or other businesses.

There have been reports of people in the U.S. rushing to buy face masks. Glenn Taylor, a shift manager for a CVS/pharmacy store in the Atlanta area, says people have been asking for the masks all week. He says when he got some in today, he sold them all, 15 or 20 packages, each containing two masks. "A lot of people have been asking about them all week," he tells WebMD. "Everybody is out. There was a run on hand sanitizer. We're out of that, too. I think it's mostly a few people who are really concerned, and they just want to be prepared."

Mike DeAngelis, a spokesman for the CVS/pharmacy chain, adds that sales for such items have been brisk all across the country. "Current supply levels are low, and we do have some stores currently out of stock,” DeAngelis says. “We are working with our suppliers to get more masks as well as the other items into our stores to help meet the increased demand.”

But most people don't need masks at this point, says Michael Smith, MD, WebMD's chief medical editor, in his blog.

7 Reasons Not to Over Worry

After a solid week of scary headlines about swine flu, it's time to take a step back, take a deep breath, and regain perspective. Here are seven points to consider:

1.Most swine flu cases have been mild, so far. Severe cases have been seen mainly in Mexico, for reasons that aren't yet clear. But most swine flu patients have recovered without being hospitalized.

2.You're not defenseless against swine flu. Simple things -- washing your hands, not touching your mouth, eyes, or nose, and trying to avoid close contact with sick people -- can go a long way toward reducing your risk.

3.Most swine flu cases so far have been pretty much like normal, seasonal flu. Swine flu and seasonal flu share symptoms, and spread the same way.

4.How much do you worry about seasonal flu? Maybe you should give garden-variety flu a little more respect. In a typical U.S. flu season, an average of 36,000 people die of flu or flu complications, and about 200,000 people are hospitalized. Swine flu hasn't come anywhere close to that.

5.Swine flu's future is unknown. No one knows where swine flu is headed -- for better or for worse. "You don't know if it's going to fizzle out in a couple weeks or become more or less virulent or severe in the diseases it causes," CDC Acting Director Richard Besser, MD, said on April 29. "If we could see into the future [that] would be absolutely wonderful, but that's not the case. That's why we're being aggressive" in seeking to limit swine flu's impact on human health.

6.The world is more prepared than ever. Remember bird flu ? When that was the "it" virus several years ago, the global health community ramped up its pandemic preparations. As a result of that work, "the world is better prepared for an influenza pandemic than at any time in history," WHO Director-General Margaret Chan said on April 29.

7.Pandemics aren't all deadly." If the World Health Organization declares swine flu a pandemic, that's all about the spread of the virus -- not the severity of the illness. In the past, some pandemics have been mild, while others have been severe, notes WHO spokesman Gregory Hartl, adding that "people should act with common sense, not with panic."

Reporter Bill Hendrick contributed to this report.

Thanks H&F! I love WebMD! Are people really stupid enough to be avoiding Mexican restaurants...OMG!

It really seems that the media has dramatized the situation. This morning they said that it isn't as bad as originally thought and there were actually far less deaths in Mexico than originally reported. When you think about it, statistically, the spread of the flu isn't that bad. If there are 20m people in Mexico City and less than 1,000 have it and 320m people in the US and only 250 cases reported, I think we are ok. There still are no confirmed cases in Cancun and another bride on this forum got married last week and everyone was fine. She said that she didn't even know it was all going on until she was leaving. Keep your heads up girls...I think there is a light at the end of this tunnel:)

I can't believe that because of the media blowing things out of proportion so many brides have had their wedding dreams crushed. So much stress could have been avoided if more research had been done prior to someone writing a story, or creating a TV headline! It makes me so angry!!!

also ladies Mexico has lowered the H1N1 alert level from red-high to orange-elevated. They believe its dying off in Mexico but think it may start up again this fall, POSSIBLY!!!!

Good news for us summer brides!

Mexico lowers swine flu alert level - CNN.com

We are moving forward with our departure on May 15th after we got the ok from FI's employer. But nobody else from his firm can go! How shitty is that? There go 8 of our guests right there. He has to see a doc when he gets back and work 1 week from their site in NJ were nobody works. Oy! This whole thing is so annoying. I am beginning to get anoyed by my guests and am wondering if anyone will actually show up. We are basically forcing our parents to go. (Just kidding- sort of)

If I get another email I don't know how sensitive I can be. I mean people are being nice and all "we DON'T want to stress you out but..." Then stop emailing me!

I am feeling agitated right now but I am happy that we are going because even though I am not feeling happy right now I cannot postpone this any longer. I can't focus and we have already been engaged 15 months. We are done. kwim? Plus I want to get all this wedding swag out of my too small apartment.

Yamille,

Yes it is annoyimg when people e-mail like that. I'm going forward too and I think only one guest is cancelling. I'm happy that you are still having yoru dream wedding too. Good Luck.

Yamille, that is great news! I am so glad you are moving forward and FI is able to go.