omg swine flu 303!!!

[Junglemum]

spot on lorirae, i am much more concerned about the whooping cough.

[AnyDream]

Its ok for people to say "its just another flu strain" or the like but I see people every day coughing and spluttering and sneezing all over the place with so much as using their hands let alone tissue to cover their faces. Its disgusting, humans as a general rule are filthy filthy creatures.

Nae you are spot on. I suddenly find myself in the category of people for whom regular colds/viruses/flus are potentially life-threatening events. We have this ad on the telly here in SA where a woman is sneezing in slow motion to operatic music - you can SEE the droplets spraying out. And yet people STILL go about hacking and sneezing without even waving their hands vaguely in their face direction. HELLO??? Basic hygeine, people!!!

[Inanna]

Nae and Marydean... I agree & MD I hear you...

It is just illogical to say it's a mild illness. It is not and can be life threatening. As a community I think it's our responsibility to ensure we do our bit not to increase others risks. Panicking is not helpful nor is the attitude that it's not gonna happen to us and if it does it's just a sniffle. This flu potentially is dangerous. Not everyone will have a mild case and not eceryon will have a severe case. Fact is it's out there and we need to deal with it as a community...

Falguni brings up a very valid point. Each year there is a new strain of the influenza virus - this being another...

I had Influenza A when I was pregnant with Immy. I was incredibly sick for weeks. Great if all your family are healthy. Not everyone is. Your child has a runny nose and a cough - the lady ahead of you in the checkout is undergoing chemo and has nano immunity... You are aching, headache, temps but you "soldier on" and go to work... At work is a woman in the early stages of pregnancy, a man who has a wife at home with a premmie baby...

Can you see that we need the middle road.

Be sensible, be mindful - how are my actions potentially going to affect others... etc.

I hear you Cai about the financial implications. It's very difficult and I hope that you do not have that reality to face...

[Junglemum]

Totally agree.........we are a disgusting society who are happy to spread germs willy nilly! It really annoys me when people bring their germs to work/school/playgroup. If your sick youshould stay at home. Not only for the rest you prob need to get better but to stop the spread of germs!

If we become a more hygenic and thoughful society (in relation to spreading germs) because of this swine flu then that is a great thing.

[Cassius2]

maybe the one good thing about this swine flu will be the possibility of teaching ppl proper hygiene measures!

i know for a fact that here at uni, ppl who are even mildly sick are thinking twice about coming in and DDs kindy is almost a ghost town.

that said, i am concerned about some quarters in local qld governments that are deliberating on whether to force sick workers home for a week. i am worried about the protection that may not be afforded to them financially for taking time off work. (there have been rumbles in the jungles in FNQ about giving employers powers to force workers home...). so although i agree that if you are sick you should stay home, i am also very aware that some ppl just dont have the luxury of paid sick leave.

[Nai]

3 yo DD1 is currently at the GP wearing a mask and getting tested for swine flu as she has a temp, cough, sore throat and headache. Fortunately DP works at a place that has "isolation leave" so he can access that if we have to be quarantined. Needless to say I am not happy given that we also have a 3mo old baby.

I would be this worried if it was seasonal flu and I certainly won't be taking risks with others - however, we went to an 80th yesterday with LOTS of old people and a wedding the day before where the bride has Chronic Fatigue. What a nightmare

[Lolli]

Totally agree FC. Twice in the last few weeks I have overheard conversations between parents regarding an illness their child has. One was at a popular tourist attraction, talking about their son, who was with them, who had a cough and sniffle. Another was at a childrens playground packed with kids- a mother was telling her friend about the rash her daughter had broken out in that morning and actually got her to lift her shirt to get the friend's opinion. I was gobsmacked.

But I have to confess, before I worked in a hospital I rarely washed my hands and had no idea about infection control. When I look at myself then, as a member of the general public with little knowledge about serious illness and infestious diseases, it's no wonder this flu (like most others) has spread so quickly. people maintain a general ignorance about their safety and hygeine and that of others.

EtA- Nai! That's terrible. I hope it turns out ok

[Inanna]

Nai thinking of you my love... I hope your little one is feeling better soon. I know you must feel awful about those that you came into contact with - but you had no way of knowing. Just hope and pray that those that he came into contact with will be spared...