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Molly600
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 Posted: 12/12/03 - 16:31 Post subject: Flu...hype or reality?
I was just curious what people are thinking about this flu thing right now? Is it really this bad, say for the regular non-serious risk group person, as the media is making it out to be? Am I under reacting to think it is being overhyped?
What do you guys think? Any medical professionals out there? What are your thoughts?????
Just very curious......
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jrjo
Gone Fishin
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Location: Lake Wobegon, MN
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Posted: 12/12/03 - 16:35 Post subject:
Just glad to still have the plastic sheeting and duct tape from the last crisis. 
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thegman
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Posted: 12/12/03 - 16:41 Post subject:
My dad has it. He's in his 60s and it hit him like a truck. He didn't get the flu shot.
He got sick last Saturday and hasn't been able to go to work the entire week. He still had a fever this morning.
Two people from my office are out with it too. They've both missed work since Tuesday.
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copteacher
Adjunct
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Location: Teaching in the Halls of Justice
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Posted: 12/12/03 - 16:42 Post subject:
I'd say it is pretty bad..day 10 for me...Robin is on about day 8. JJ and Hannah are finally over it. Abby is still fighting it. And we all had flu shots
 -flu shot
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HYPERASHEL
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Location: The South's Sauna, Atlanta
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Posted: 12/12/03 - 16:44 Post subject:
this years flu season is going to be worse for two reasons.
One the shot for this year does not have the strain that is being prevalent/ hence no antibodies made (immunities) to fight this one. so that causes a rise in cases
PLUS this strain has NEVER been seen here before (so they say) which means that NO ONE has ANY antibodies to it. and this also causes a rise in cases.
SO expect it to be a bad year!!!! a few things to keep in mind to make it easier. cautious on handshakes if someone is sneezing alot i'd not shake their hand. use towels in public restrooms to open doors after washing hands.
might want to carry some Handi-wipes around too for that quick handwash when needed.
and i am NOT a germ Freak either. (i wont be carrying Handi-wipes myself)
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Molly600
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Posted: 12/12/03 - 16:45 Post subject:
I guess that's part of what I'm wondering. It seems there's all this hype and crisis about the flu shot, but then you hear about all the people that get the shot and still get the flu because of the different strains.
Part of the reason I'm asking is because my parents have been hounding me to get a flu shot and I haven't. I don't really know why not, I'm not morally opposed or anything, I just have never gotten one and have never gotten the flu. We got Hayden one because his pediatrician recommended it, so I don't see how me getting one makes a difference in relation to him getting sick or not.......Is this the wrong idea on my part?
And to all you with the flu now....hope you feel better soon. 
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HYPERASHEL
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Posted: 12/12/03 - 16:50 Post subject:
yeah i do not take the shot ( and i work with sick people too) one i feel its not really warranted for me. i am not at risk, BUT i dont have anyone with me at risk eiter, infants immune suppressed individuals. and i am very healthy always have been.
second it is a gamble anyway. they do pretty well in the predictions.
(last time the missed a strain was in 1997) but if a strain goes around that is not in the shot, it's moot.
SO>>> not wrong on your part IMHO
Last edited by HYPERASHEL on 12/12/03 - 16:55; edited 1 time in total
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jrjo
Gone Fishin
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Location: Lake Wobegon, MN
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Posted: 12/12/03 - 16:51 Post subject:
| HYPERASHEL wrote: | | PLUS this strain has NEVER been seen here before (so they say) which means that NO ONE has ANY antibodies to it. and this also causes a rise in cases. |
You realize this has all the conspiracy minds out there goin' crazy on "engineered" viruses. I don't know enough about this stuff to decide if they're blowing smoke or not. Either way, it's scary stuff.
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airehead
Oompa Loofah
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Posted: 12/12/03 - 16:56 Post subject:
The fact that children are dying makes it scary to me.
I second the clean, clean, clean thing. I AM o/c about germs--so I carry hand sanitizer and we use it constantly.
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brie k
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Posted: 12/12/03 - 18:39 Post subject:
I bought hand sanitizer today. I'm not usually worried about the flu, but like aire, the children dying (2 or 3 in our area, but they said that the flu kills 20 NCers every year) has me worried this year. So the kids will sanitze their hands after returning from school (I did Jake as we were leaving preschool), and we'll wash our hands a lot while at home, and keep an eye out for the flu symptoms.
Molly, it might not matter if you should or should not get the flu shot since places are running out of them anyway. And like was said, if you get the flu that isn't the strain the shot protects against, it won't matter anyway.
I have gotten a flu shot since Libby was a tot, and this is the first year I've missed it... I feel like an idiot too. Too busy to get my butt in to the doctor to do this. However, I've never gotten shots for the kids, and it didn't occur to me to do it until after all this hubbub...
It is scary, and I'm not sure if they are blowing it out of proportion or not. People die from the flu every year, it could be that this year it's just hitting so hard so fast? I just don't know.
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purple hayes
Frightened Inmate #2
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Posted: 12/12/03 - 18:44 Post subject:
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cherylpf
crazy cat lady
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Posted: 12/12/03 - 18:46 Post subject:
| jrjo wrote: | | HYPERASHEL wrote: | | PLUS this strain has NEVER been seen here before (so they say) which means that NO ONE has ANY antibodies to it. and this also causes a rise in cases. |
You realize this has all the conspiracy minds out there goin' crazy on "engineered" viruses. I don't know enough about this stuff to decide if they're blowing smoke or not. Either way, it's scary stuff. |
Viruses re-engineer themselves faster than we could do anything, or so I understand. They 'evolve' very quickly, much like several bacteria now, like Staph.
A good hand scrubdown with soap and water early and often is best, along with the paper towel method hyper suggested. That waterless hand sanitizer stuff didn't kill any of the bacteria I tested it on in the lab, fwiw.
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