Swine flu and travel

[GoingtobebiginAsia]

Ok, so I?m coming a bit late to the swine flu scare. I?m in Vietnam, where the virus has been slow to spread. The national count is only 672 so far, with no deaths, although the number of new cases is increasing every day.

DP and I were planning to take a pre-baby holiday. The timing of the holiday has been linked to our employers and yesterday we were both able to get the same three days off in mid-August. So I have been happily searching for budget flights and accommodation, have been deliriously happy with how cheap flights and four nights on the Thai island of Krabi will be.

But DP just sent me an email saying maybe we shouldn?t go. He says Thailand has had more than 7,000 cases of swine flu, including 40-odd deaths. To be honest, swine flu had not really crossed my mind. I was just hanging for the beach and some quality time with DP.

I am flying home to Australia in mid-September, at 34 weeks, to have the baby at home. I had been thinking about the risk of swine flu on the plane but figured that because I was coming FROM a low-risk area it would be ok. And the baby would be bigger and hopefully stronger by then.

The flight to Bangkok is less than two hours, I think, then a couple of hours in the airport, and a one-and-a-half hour flight to Krabi. We were planning a night in Bangkok on the way back but maybe we should be avoiding crowds. I don?t know if the swine flu risk is serious enough to abandon the plan for the beach holiday.

Does anyone have any advice to offer?

[Lukesmum]

Maybe you could wear a mask on the plane. I know myself I always seem to get sick after flying.

[Sammiejane]

wearing a mask only has benefits for half an hour, so i wouldnt bother tbh!
I work in a hospital ward that has negitive pressure rooms and we get patients that have H1N1 (swine flu), TB, Chicken pox, measles and anything else that is spread via droplets...
We have to limit our time in these rooms as the masks (which are better than the ones that you would buy from a chemist) are the most effective within the first 15-20 mins as our breathing can break down the area that restricts the particles.

Really good hand hygiene is imperative as the virus can remain active on surfaces long after the person has touched it/sneezed over it etc etc.
Make sure that you wash your hand BEFORE eating and if u are on a plane i would have a liquid cleanser that you use after removing the lids or touching anything.
there is increased screening in the airports so people with symptoms wont be boarding the planes.
Go and have a look at the australian gov web site, google H1N1, look at other countries websites to see what their suggestions are and take as much advise as you can.

Not sure if this has been at all helpful
GL

[Lukesmum]

Wow I didn't know that about the masks. Glad I haven"t spent money buying them then. Good to know. They are telling pg women to wear them to the shop but it would be a waste of time doing that too.

[Sammiejane]

. They are telling pg women to wear them to the shop

Who is "they" i had a quick search just in case i had got my facts wrong and the only recommendation that has come from the health authority in Australia suggests that a mask should be worn if treating a patient with flu like symptoms etc etc
Obviously i could be comepletly wrong though - i just couldnt find an actual recommendation.

the other information that i found was that a mask was completely ineffective if it did not create a barrier seal around the nose and mouth - needs to be correctly fitted, so most people that i have observed in the community would have not been protected anyway!

JMO

[blueflower]

Hey
I also work in a hospital with Swine flu patients- although I am not in contact with these or any patients.
I spoke to my Ob last night about it, think (hoping rather!) that he suggest I not work there for a while hehehehe!
He explained that even wearing a mask does not reduce your risk of catching it, there is more of a chance of catching it by contact, for example, someone with the infection touching a desk, then you touching the desk later on. Then touching your face mouth nose etc.
He just told me to be more careful about hand hygeine, wash often, use anti-bacterial hand sanitisters (even the ones that you dont use with water are fine).

Also, maybe you could speak to your doctor about getting the antibiotics for the 'just in case' as they are safe while pregnant.
I would still go, but thats my opinion. Just need to be a bit more careful than normal!

[GoingtobebiginAsia]

Thanks for your replies. I'm still wavering. I don't know whether I should push DP hard to go, or choose the safe and boring option and stay home.
I'd heard masks weren't so effective. However, I was thinking that if we wore masks maybe everyone would stay away from us, reducing the number of germs in our vicinity. We could put on a bit of an act at the Bangkok airport but that might attract the attention of the people with the power to put us in quarantine!
I see the obst tomorrow, I'll see what he says.
I stayed away from a networking breakfast today because the local RMIT campus is closed because of swine flu and I know some RMIT staff usually turn up at these events. Crazy, huh?

[Sammiejane]

[QUOTE=blueflower;1910528
there is more of a chance of catching it by contact, for example, someone with the infection touching a desk, then you touching the desk later on. Then touching your face mouth nose etc.
He just told me to be more careful about hand hygeine, wash often, use anti-bacterial hand sanitisters (even the ones that you dont use with water are fine).QUOTE]

I agree totally... You are way more likely to become infected by touching a surface that someone has sneezed or coughed over, rather than be sneezed on...
To catch it from a person you have to be directly sneezed coughed or spat (yuck) on as it is a droplet illness. Its easy to avoid people with flu like symptoms, but who know who has touched your trolley/basket/desk/handrail etc etc
the virus will live on a non pourous surface for up to 48 hours!!!

I say be really strict about what you touch and make sure you wash you hands or sanitise them prior to eating or drinking... this is your best way of avoiding contracting it.
Obviously stay away from crowded areas... but you know what, if you feel safer wearing a mask for what ever reason, its not going to hurt you, just be mindful that it should not be your only protection. And yes it may keep others away from you - its a visual prompt

FWIW i dont look after H1N1 patients, they are on my ward but i am never allocated these rooms as i have a toddler... Neither is anyone that is pg... better safe than sorry

[GoingtobebiginAsia]

Well, the obst didn't to have a strong opinion either way. I have Tamiflu (for bird flu) but he said to make sure influenza was confirmed before taking it.
He gave me a certificate for the airline and I think we're going to go. I sent an email to the resort asking if they'd had any swine flu cases among their staff or guests but they haven't replied.
I'll just have to try to be more careful about touching my face. I am really feeling the heat at the moment and I'm always wiping sweat away from my forehead, top lip and around my eyes.