Mexico

Re: Swine Flu in Mexico - Possible Pandemic?

Ariba Ariba — Tue, 12 May 2009 22:16:12 GMT

Thank You for the information. Hope everyone that should be reading this detailed valuable information, will be able to and soon.

Re: Swine Flu in Mexico - Possible Pandemic?

rwilymz — Tue, 12 May 2009 21:37:10 GMT

While everyone needs to keep an eye out for their own best interests, which includes their health, they also need to be wary of fretting themselves into a debilitating lather. This is the information age, but unfortunately it isn't coinciding with the the knowledge age or the perspective age, either one. As a result, we have information, but little context in which to place it.

Just for grins, I googled the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Report and dug up some data that you won't find any of the media giving out. The more headlines, the more money they make; do you honestly think they're likely to report: "Swine Flu: Not a Problem"? It is to laugh.

Anyway, for the first week of May this year, during the upswing of US swine flu confirmed cases, the MMR's table for "all deaths in 122 US cities" [which has a pneumonia & influenza subtotal] lists 780 or so deaths from pneumonia and influenza during the week. Three weeks prior to that, in the middle of April, before swine flu was widely incubated, there were 860 P&I deaths. In late March, before swine flu, there were over 1000 deaths from pneumonia and influenza.

With this swine flu "epidemic", there are fewer and fewer deaths the more swine flu picks up.

Now, yes, we are exiting "the cold and flu season" and therefore we ought to see exactly that phenomenon regardless. Right? So go back a year. The numbers are virtually the same, statistical anomolies notwithstanding. For an epidemic, it certainly has better PR than it would seem to warrant.

Every year in this country of 300 million people, between 30 and 60 million people [10-20%] come down with influenza [30-60 million cases, anyway; some individuals will get it multiple times -- lucky them], and typically 36,000 will die from it. That is in a normal year, with normal everyday strains of influenza, with no "epidemic" occurring, and certainly no "pandemic" either. There's been, what? 3 deaths in the US in a month from swine flu? That's literally one-in-a-hundred-million, or .000001%.

But, it is always good to watch out. Just don't go overboard.

By the way, influenza is a virus, not a bacteria; anti-bacterial hand sanitizers won't help.

Re: Swine Flu in Mexico - Possible Pandemic?

Todd — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 18:16:53 GMT

I am scheduled to go to Progresso and Cozumel this Saturday on the Ecstasy. First, I would not expect Carnival to cancel anything because the financial impact would be very high. You are the only one looking out for you. I do expect them to be prepared to handle an outbreak on the ship. My biggest concern is that the ship is or was there this week and I am sure there is potential for the ship to get infected before we even get on. All of this is changing fast. Things could change dramatically in 4 days. By June, much more will be known.

Re: Swine Flu in Mexico - Possible Pandemic?

Tracie — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:32:15 GMT

My cruise sails May 9th and my friends are getting married in Grand Cayman, so I was very anxious at the thought of anything changing our itinerary. I called Carnival this morning and as of then they were not planning any destination changes but that was before the CDC declared the "major health" emergency. I have a feeling my Port of Call may be changed, or at least any exursions to mainland Mexico cancelled, but your cruise in June is far enough out to ease any panic. If we still stop in Mexico I will still get off the ship and do my excursion....but I will be wearing a respiratory mask and have several bottles of hand sanitizer!

Re: Swine Flu in Mexico - Possible Pandemic?

texas lady — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 20:01:04 GMT

They just confirmed the 8 students from New York that went to mexico for a school trip now have Swine flu!

Re: Swine Flu in Mexico - Possible Pandemic?

4bolts — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:34:39 GMT

in the MSN article there were 10 new zealand students who returned from Mexico that have been diagnosed.

Re: Swine Flu in Mexico - Possible Pandemic?

Ariba Ariba — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:34:11 GMT

This time last year I had to seek medical consent to cruise in June '08, due to a pre-existing illness. So prior to scheduling the May 2009 cruise to Alaska, I had to again obtain permission. Now with the Swine Flu, (also in New York), perhaps this is why I always purchase cruise insurance. And for what insurance cannot cover, me and mine have been saying and sending prayers for everyone in Mexico and beyond. Perhaps we all should!

Re: Swine Flu in Mexico - Possible Pandemic?

lwolfson — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:17:03 GMT

This just in.

US declares public health emergency for swine flu

WASHINGTON – The U.S. declared a public health emergency Sunday to deal with the emerging new swine flu, much like the government does to prepare for approaching hurricanes.

Officials reported 20 U.S. cases of swine flu in five states so far, with the latest in Ohio and New York. Unlike in Mexico where the same strain appears to be killing dozens of people, cases in the United State have been mild — and U.S. health authorities can't yet explain why.

"As we continue to look for cases, we are going to see a broader spectrum of disease," predicted Dr. Richard Besser, acting chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "We're going to see more severe disease in this country."

At a White House news conference, Besser and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano sought to assure Americans that health officials are taking all appropriate steps to minimize the impact of the outbreak.

Top among those is declaring the public health emergency. As part of that, Napolitano said roughly 12 million doses of the drug Tamiflu will be moved from a federal stockpile to places where states can quickly get their share if they decide they need it. Priority will be given to the five states with known cases so far: California, Texas, New York, Ohio and Kansas.

Napolitano called the emergency declaration standard operating procedure — one was declared recently for the inauguration and for flooding. She urged people to think of it as a "declaration of emergency preparedness."

"Really that's what we're doing right now. We're preparing in an environment where we really don't know ultimately what the size of seriousness of this outbreak is going to be."

CDC: http://www.cdc.gov

This is an official
CDC Health Advisory
Distributed via Health Alert Network
April 25, 2009, 3:00 EST (03:00 PM EDT) CDCHAN-000281-2009-04-25-ALT-N
Investigation and Interim Recommendations:
Swine Influenza (H1N1)
CDC, in collaboration with public health officials in California and Texas, is investigating cases of febrile respiratory illness caused by swine influenza (H1N1) viruses. As of 11 AM (EDT) April 25, 2009, 8 laboratory confirmed cases of Swine Influenza infection have been confirmed in the United States. Four cases have been reported in San Diego County, California. Two cases have been reported in Imperial County California. Two cases have been reported in Guadalupe County, Texas. Of the 8 persons with available data, illness onsets occurred March 28-April 14, 2009. Age range was 7-54 y.o. Cases are 63% male.
The viruses contain a unique combination of gene segments that have not been reported previously among swine or human influenza viruses in the U.S. or elsewhere. At this time, CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment of infection with swine influenza viruses. The H1N1 viruses are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine but not to oseltamivir or zanamivir. It is not anticipated that the seasonal influenza vaccine will provide protection against the swine flu H1N1 viruses.
CDC has also been working closely with public health officials in Mexico, Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO). Mexican public health authorities have reported increased levels of respiratory disease, including reports of severe pneumonia cases and deaths, in recent weeks. CDC is assisting public health authorities in Mexico by testing specimens and providing epidemiological support. As of 11:00 AM (EDT) April 25, 2009, 7 specimens from Mexico at CDC have tested positive for the same strain of swine influenza A (H1N1) as identified in U.S. cases. However, no clear data are available to assess the link between the increased disease reports in Mexico and the confirmation of swine influenza in a small number of specimens. WHO is monitoring international cases. Further information on international cases may be found at: http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_04_24/en/index.html
Clinicians should consider swine influenza infection in the differential diagnosis of patients with febrile respiratory illness and who 1) live in San Diego or Imperial counties, California, or Guadalupe County, Texas, or traveled to these counties or 2) who traveled recently to Mexico or were in contact with persons who had febrile respiratory illness and were in one of the three U.S. counties or Mexico during the 7 days preceding their illness onset.
Patients who meet these criteria should be tested for influenza, and specimens positive for influenza should be sent to public health laboratories for further characterization. Clinicians who suspect swine influenza virus infections in humans should obtain a nasopharyngeal swab from the patient, place the swab in a viral transport medium, refrigerate the specimen, and then contact their state or local health department to facilitate transport and timely diagnosis at a state public health laboratory. CDC requests that state public health laboratories promptly send all influenza A specimens that cannot be subtyped to the CDC, Influenza Division, Virus Surveillance and Diagnostics Branch Laboratory.
Persons with febrile respiratory illness should stay home from work or school to avoid spreading infections (including influenza and other respiratory illnesses) to others in their communities. In addition, frequent hand washing can lessen the spread of respiratory illness.
CDC has not recommended that people avoid travel to affected areas at this time. Recommendations found at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/contentSwineFluUS.aspx will help travelers reduce risk of infection and stay healthy.
Clinical guidance on laboratory safety, case definitions, infection control and information for the public are available at:http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/investigation.htm.
•
Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Biosafety Guidelines for Laboratory Workers: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidelines_labworkers.htm
•
Interim Guidance for Infection Control for Care of Patients with Confirmed or Suspected Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection in a Healthcare Setting: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidelines_infection_control.htm
•
Interim Guidance on Case Definitions for Swine Influenza A (H1N1) Human Case Investigations: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/casedef_swineflu.htm
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports Dispatch (April 24) provide detailed information about the initial cases at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm58d0424a1.htm
For more information about swine flu: http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu
Additional information is also available by calling 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636)
____________________________________________________________________________________
Categories of Health Alert messages:
Health Alert conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention.
Health Advisory provides important information for a specific incident or situation; may not require immediate action.
Health Update provides updated information regarding an incident or situation; unlikely to require immediate action.
##This Message was distributed to State and Local Health Officers, Public Information Officers, Epidemiologists and HAN Coordinators as well as Clinician organizations##
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You have received this message based upon the information contained within our emergency notification data base. If you have a different or additional e-mail or fax address that you would like us to use please contact your State-based Health Alert Network program at your State or local health department.
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Re: Swine Flu in Mexico - Possible Pandemic?

LisainFL — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 19:01:47 GMT

DebbyDee:

I know I JUST SAID that I was going to avoid the news networks ... but I found this on MSNBC's website:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30410491/

I'm hoping that this is simply being blown out of proportion by the media.

DebbyDee

Aren't most things blown out of proportion by the media? In the "old days" news came on at 6 and 11 pm for half an hour or so...now they have 24 hours a day of tv time to fill...plus a gazillion websites.

Re: Swine Flu in Mexico - Possible Pandemic?

DebbyDee — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:56:02 GMT

I know I JUST SAID that I was going to avoid the news networks ... but I found this on MSNBC's website:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30410491/

I'm hoping that this is simply being blown out of proportion by the media.

DebbyDee

Re: Swine Flu in Mexico - Possible Pandemic?

DebbyDee — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:30:24 GMT

sweetgem37:
That is how I feel. Just like to know there is some sort of thinking going on. This is my first cruise so I don't 'have faith' but I know business is business so the show goes on...... somehow! LOL

LOL, this is our first cruise also! I have faith in Carnival for several reasons. First off -- my daughter and her family just came back from a Carnival cruise to the Bahamas and they cannot say enough great things about Carnival. Also, my husband's siblings are all frequent cruisers, and they have been well pleased with the Carnival cruises they have taken. And ... last but not least .... Carnival is in business to make travelers happy. It simply wouldn't be 'good business' for them to have a cruise ship full of unhappy travelers - so it is their top priority to give us the best (and safest) travel experience possible.

I simply need to avoid tuning into the news networks. I understand the situation has now been labeled as "The Swine Flu Crisis", and, according to the media, the entire world is at risk (.... and I'm travelling to the epicenter of it all!!! ...... aaaaaugh!!!)!!!

On that cheery note,

DebbyDee

I need one of those drinks in the Monkey Head ... doesn't alcohol protect you from germs????

Re: Swine Flu in Mexico - Possible Pandemic?

sweetgem37 — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 15:01:45 GMT

That is how I feel. Just like to know there is some sort of thinking going on. This is my first cruise so I don't 'have faith' but I know business is business so the show goes on...... somehow! LOL

Re: Swine Flu in Mexico - Possible Pandemic?

DebbyDee — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 14:23:28 GMT

I am hoping that Carnvial comes out with an official statement regarding this very soon. Don't get me wrong, I really do have all the faith in the world in Carnival, so I'm not going to lose any sleep over this. However, I would like to know what Carnival's 'Plan B' would be in case this outbreak continues to worsen ... .

DebbyDee

Re: Swine Flu in Mexico - Possible Pandemic?

sweetgem37 — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:36:09 GMT

I head out on the Glory on May 2nd so am really watching this. We are to go to Cozamel, Costa Maya. I imagine if it got REAL bad, Carnival would go elsewhere OR we would just stay at sea??? Tiffany

Re: Swine Flu in Mexico - Possible Pandemic?

ladybug.NM — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:27:40 GMT

DebbyDee:
if this outbreak does become an epedemic ... how Carnival would address their planned travel to the Mexican destinations?

It is not only traveling to Mexico .. it is also the people that have traveled to Mexico and are on the same cruise ship ...