All public schools in Madison County, including Huntsville and Madison city schools, will be closed Thursday and Friday due to the two cases of probable swine flu found at Heritage Elementary School in Madison Wednesday. The Alabama Department of Public Health answers your questions and fears about the status of swine flu in Alabama: "As of 4:25 p.m. (CDT) on 05/02/2009, Alabama has eight probable cases and one confirmed case of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection identified." With Huntsville's big international population and business community traveling all over the world, should you be concerned and go to the doctor or emergency room to be checked? All health care officials are recommending that you don't go unless you've been sick for with a temperature of 100° F or greater with cough and/or sore throat in the absence of a known cause other than influenza and would normally go to the doctor. Otherwise, you're advised to stay home, rest and wash your hands frequently.
You can also find out the latest on swine flu in the United States by visiting the website of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention or the World Health Organization.
Are you worried about Swine Flu? Do you think our leaders are handling this right? Are you preparing for the worse? Will this turn into a pandemic? Share your opinion.
Comments
I am worried that this will turn into a world pandemic because it has been confirmed to be airborn. which makes it so much easier to catch it.
I’m somewhat scared that this could become a pandemic. Though my trust in our government is limited, I do hope they can stop further spread of the virus. And the News could try to cease from hyping it up so much, their ratings should be the last thing on their minds right now.
I’m scared to death. I woke up this morning with a tickle in my throat, wondering could i have this virus? The symptoms are pretty much the same as the run of the mill flu. I just got over having the flu a few weeks ago. The News needs to stop making such a big deal about this!
I have a question is there cure for swine flu.
Re: A Cure?
No. There isn’t. As I understand it, antivirals such as Tamiflu are somewhat effective…for now. I pulled my 8 year old from school as of today (Wednesday) and have no plans to return her until this thing is TOTALLY in hand. Sometimes you just have to make the call yourself regardless of public opinion, protocol or even the law.
I heard on the news today that two kinds of normal flu drugs will work as a treatment. And that the government is sending out their stockpile. All states should have them available by Sunday.
http://www.who.int/csr/don/2009_04_29/en/index.html
go there and read the actual info on this or go to the cdc’s website its updated ALOT… this thing isnt as bad as everyone is thinking soo everyone chill out.. just think the average flu virus kills 30000+ every year sooo calm down people and stop listening to all the media doom and gloom hype
The government ’stockpile’ of antivirals is woefully inadequate. From what I’ve read (over the past few years from reputable sources – not the tinfoil hat blogosphere) there is enough to cover essential public service personnel such as doctors, nurses, etc. and to provide for continuity of government should a true pandemic level outbreak occur. Roche Labs is a Swiss based pharmaceutical company and the patent holder for Tamiflu. They have maintained a monopoly on the drug only licensing the drug for generic production in 2005. Even still, unless I’m sorely mistaken, they are basically just outsourcing the production of certain components of the drug. It’s a widely known fact that globally Tamiflu is in extremely short supply. Before the naysayers convince you to be complacent about the possibility of a widespread, lethal influenza outbreak, there were three pandemic level outbreaks in the 20th century; once in the late teens which killed as many as 100 million people. That’s 100,000,000 people. Roughly 3%-5% of the world’s population at that time. Then there was another, less lethal outbreak in the late 1950’s that killed around 70,000 in the US and still another around 1968 that killed over 30,000 in the US. This DOES happen periodically and we are long overdue for just such an event. What I’m saying here is not opinion. Fact check it. It’s history.
I know there are concerns about swine flu so want everyone to know Old MacDonald’s Petting Zoo has NO PIGS! Thanks, Owner
People do not need to worry. It is just the flu. Only one person in the US died from it and that was a baby. Over 5,000 people die from the regular flu per month in the US. this is just the flu with a fancy name and interesting story. People should continue to live their lives normally, but avoid mexico.
We where just in Huntsville’s children hospital ER last week. The following days my husband and 4 year old son got sick. My little boy lost 5 pounds due to vomiting and diarhea. Now that it is in that county it has me wondering could that be what we had? I don’t know my other son who is 2 has a cough and of course I am now like does he have this? I am parinoid to some degree.
Stay away from Mexico? Using that logic I suppose we should stay away from Canada, Spain, UK, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Israel, South Korea, Netherlands, Austria, France, Costa Rica, Switzerland and Peru. All are nations with confirmed H1N1 cases.
Oh yeah, don’t forget about Texas,California, Kansas, Massachusetts , Michigan, Arizona, Indiana, Nevada, Maine and Ohio. Also, it would seem Alabama.
Don’t you think that there are bigger fish to fry in the United States than the “Swine Flu”? I guess TV ratings need to be kept up.
Yeah…you’re right…this is all just a big joke…no danger here.
They need to close all our borders. There is no need to make it worse just because we have only a few cxonfirmed cases. I would have a few than alot. Just close the boarders and put out military in action to patrol the boarders.
My opinions are based upon scientific research as a chemist. The World Health Organization released a study on the resistivity of H1N1 (swine flu) to oseltamivir (aka Tamiflu). It yielded data that shows that Tamiflu has no effect on H1N1. You may read the study below
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/influenza/H1N1webupdate20090318%20ed_ns.pdf
Because the WHO has elevated to phase 5 and the fact H1N1 cases have been confirmed in multiple countries, I believe we are headed toward tough times. I’m an optimist, but a realist, and facts are real.
I think avoiding large crowds is the best thing anyone can do. I like to go out in the early morning to get my shopping done. I hope the schools give more days out, I think all schools should be out for atleast a week.
WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE!
that is right BEN it is Imminent.
we havent got out of school yet because we are about to hit summer break (YEAH!) but they have already stoped sports in AL to some degree and we HAVE had some flu going around latly so im kind of scared now i mean the state doesnt want us to miss 2 much school so they r taking risks i thing that they should wait with school a couple of days to get everyone vacinated and ready if it comes (we have had some bad luck with samunila in vally) so noone is gonna take a chance.
There has GOT to be more to this. Doctors are reporting swine flu is not all that bad etc etc. However, MAYBE it COULD morph into something much more deadly…is that why all the precautions?? Gee, it does not take a genius to realize government does not shut down schools for 2 cases of flu!
I’m not worried for my self just my 8 mo and 2yr old . After hearing what happened to that 23 mo old and the ppl in mexcio my heart goes out to those families…
I feel that a pandemic will be announced by Tuesday of next week.
Unless the CDC has the power to suspend ALL Flights & to suspend everyone to there homes…(nationwide shutdown) Its not going to get any better anytime soon.
Plus people who are infected possibly run the risk of infecting anyone they come in contact with.. so places that are of high population or highly crowded places (Like N.Y.) where the H1N1 has spread the fastest.
** If you are reading this… dont go anywhere this weekend unless absolutely necessary.. and if everyone everywhere would do the same (this weekend) it may help slow this down **
I’m a little scared. The government would never allow for us to be this scared. This is not the flu! Of course they would not want to cause total chaos. I am alot scared. Just stay home.
Hey Nat! yeah, pandemic means worse than epidemic! AND yes i would make sure my kids were clean.People like you are the reason disease spread.
For all of you that are scared to death of the Swine Flu…just an update. I live in Alabama as well and as far as I’m concerned, all you need to do is take precautions, you cannot live yuor life on ifs and buts, so take precautions. Mostly the ones that will not have the built up immunity like Young Infants and Elderly Adults. Keep those in yuor prayers!
this is to amy for the record pandemic is right under epidemic level. not worse than it
Just remember that World Conspiracy’s 2nd annual ZOMBIE PROM is this Saturday! You may not even need a costume!
I an scared out of my mind because just 2 days ago, I woke up and my throat was hurting and now my nose it stopped up and my heads tends to hurt every now and then. i am going to the doctor and see if i got it or not. But I am pretty sure I don’t because I haven’t been around anyone who has it or been to Mexico.
For those suggesting that we should be under nationwide lockdown, use some common sense. Regardless of any such case like this, businesses will have to be run, jobs will have to be worked, and bills will have to be paid. Many people are too greedy to offer forgiveness for late payments, no shows to work, and businesses shutting down.
Only one death in the entire US was confirmed–and it was a child visiting from Mexico, not a US citizen. While it is horrible that any death occur, the death rate is high in Mexico, though according to their health officials, it is starting to level out.
In addition to that, all the worrying you’re all putting yourselves through is only weakening your own immune system, thus making it easier for you to get sick. Just calm down, relax, and do the best you can. Stop shaking hands with people, wash your hands frequently, carry some hand sanitizer gel or spray with you, and just take some simple precautions with your family to reduce your chances of getting sick.
Swine flu seems like another type of flu, and over time will fizzle away and be like a flu. No big deal… HOWEVER, i’m worried about the swine flu when it comes to my kids, expecially my 7 month old. As of yet, there is no preventive or treatment for anyone under the age of 1- scary! We had a cruise booked for this weekend and had to cancel. Cruise line was so rude and wouldn’t let us reschedule and we lost all our money. We would have just waited to see where this all went over the next couple of weeks, but they didn’t care…took our money anyways.
To address several points…
Jake, a pandemic IS the highest level on the World Health Organization’s scale.
So what makes this type of the flu worse than the normal flu?…Well, roughly ten million people get the normal flu every year, and 36,000 people die from it. That means .36% of those who get the flu, die. In the case of H1N1 (Swine flu), as of thursday, there were 257 confirmed cases and 13 deaths confirmed to be from H1N1. This means 5.05% of those who have gotten swine flu have died. So from these numbers, the swine flu has been FOURTEEN TIMES MORE DEADLY than the normal flu. So, Yes…It really is a big deal.
Austin, I just wanted to state that while yes, .36% of people die in the US every year, your numbers for the Swine flu are also from Mexico, not only from the US. And let’s face it, Mexico and its health care system is nothing like ours. Which also brings me to the fact that the only reported death reported from swine flu in the US is from a toddler who was brought from Mexico and treated in Texas.
Also, stop freaking out everybody. I have a genetic lung disease which prohibits my lungs from protecting me from diseases such as these adequately. Have my doctors told me to stay inside and cover my windows? No, only to take the same precautions I would take during normal flu season. Just saying, this isn’t as big of a deal as everyone is making it out to be. However, if it does mutate, then yes, it will be a big deal, hence the reason we all need to take precations to keep it from spreading.
The word for Swine flu is HOGwash!! The government wants to scare us into being more likely to take national vaccines which (trust me) have much higher chance of killing you than the virus can. No one can tell you how the swine flu is different than the “flu-flu”. Have you ever been terrified when you got a sore throat before? Why start now?? If you want to stay well, up your immune system. Take some extra vitamin c and use some essential oils on the bottom of your feet like Thieves or Immupower. Check these out at http://www.Younglivingessentialoils.com if you so desire. Most of all though- – -DO NOT PANIC.
I feel like the gov isnt tryin to help us. its a joke to them.. In 1976 there was the first swine flu to hit the u.s.There was only a couple of people who died but then they started giving the vaccines and it killed alot more then what it should have..They say that its affecting 18 to 55 years old and the ones with good immune systems
I don’t think it’s going to be too serious. There’s 1 in mobile near me and the virus isn’t ultra deadly. Just if you have poor health.
Well wat the goverment should do is start a careing less about the war and more about the U.S cause there is more problems in the country than there is outside now like this swine flue and everyone is freaking and they need to work harder to find a cure cause i dont think they realy care for it and they think that nothing will happen and will just pass well 20000 people are infected. so i think it is time to turn the attention to the U.S
i think this all a bunch of bull****
i think it is all population conrol and if you get your child or yoursellf vacinated you are just falling into the goverments trap look at the recall in madison county get a grip people dont forget 911
aids and i think cancer ever had a iv or surgeroy
again you are saying stuff about the war and if you are in poor health stay away from hospitals eat right and keep things cleen no insurance you are probably not going to get any help with every thing remember people what obamas big thing was change well you all got what you voted for no jobs get insurance or go to jail the war isnt going to end and no everyone beware swine flu whatever