Will swine flu fears change your daily life this fall?
FROM CNN's Jack Cafferty:
It's estimated between 30,000 and 90,000 people in this country could die from the swine flu this year. Scary stuff. True, in an average year about 36,000 people die from regular flu - but this has the potential to be much, much worse.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says the best things people can do are simple... like washing their hands often and coughing into their sleeve.
President Obama says he doesn't want anybody to be alarmed, but he does want people to be prepared... This includes families and businesses making plans in case relatives or co-workers catch the virus and need to stay home.
Swine flu cases are expected pick up again as the school year starts... and possibly peak in mid-October. A vaccine is being tested - but isn't expected to be available until at least mid-October. Children and young adults will be at the greatest risk.
This thing has got Americans' attention. A CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll shows 39-percent of those surveyed are concerned that they or someone in their family will get the swine flu... that's double the percent who felt that way in May.
The poll also shows most Americans are confident in the government's ability to prevent a nationwide epidemic, and two-thirds say they plan to get vaccinated.
So far there have been 550-deaths in the U-S from H1N1 - or swine flu. A scientific panel recently said it's possible that anywhere from 30-to-50 percent of the population could catch it. 50-percent of the population would be around 150-million people.
Here’s my question to you: Will the fear of getting swine flu change your daily life this fall?
Interested to know which ones made it on air?
Robin writes:
I am a registered nurse and my husband is a police officer. He tested positive for H1N1 last Thurs. and my 2 year old, 5 month old and I are still well thanks to excellent personal hygiene. I kept my husband in our bedroom and used protective personal equipment known as PPE every time I went in to care for him. 8 cans of Lysol, 20 bottles of hand sanitizer, and lots of chicken soup...we're all well. Wash your hands. Cover your cough. We can survive this, we just have to pay attention!
Jim from New Orleans writes:
It sure has changed my daily life. I am a primary care physician and my daily life consists of a waiting room full of coughing, sick people!
Kate from Milton, New York writes:
To some extent, yes. I am a substitute teacher: the more teachers who get sick, the more I will be called in to work. If too many kids get sick and they close the schools, I'll be out of work. You better believe I will be getting the shots as soon as I can.
Ed from Rhode Island writes:
Jack, Absolutely! When the public starts getting their swine flu injections in mid-October, the pandemic will begin, as it did in 1976. I'm not afraid of the flu; I'm afraid of the vaccine.
Neil from Ohio writes:
I go to Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, and there are at least 110 current cases. Individuals who are believed to be infected have been asked to go home, or are quarantined in university-developed isolation areas. Major university social events have been cancelled for a week since the major breakout, but other than that my personal daily life has not changed, and it will not change. Everyone here is reported to have "mild to moderate symptoms" and those who've already recovered feel fine.
Ellen writes:
Each and every year the flu comes around, people catch it and may or may not die as a result. The only difference between this flu and other flu viruses is the attention it has received from the media. I refuse to live in fear of a media event.
@jackcafferty on Twitter
Not until it resembles Stephen King's "The Stand"
I won't behave any differently than any other flu season. Despite all the attention, the experts say that swine flu is no more or less fatal than any other strand of the flu.
Jack: The fear of swine flu will change my habits and where I travel to this Fall. I will defintely wash my hands more often, and I will have a script for Tamiflu in my home. I will up date my shot record with my family physican, and I will try and stay out of crowded places like airports and movies. It is going to be a dull Fall this year, but better safe than dead.
Swine flu is, reportedly, no more dangerous than the flu we usually face. If you take common sense precautions – especially washing your hands often – you'll probably be fine. Let's not go into full scale, Bush era-like paranoia over this thing.
yes, now that the white house has encouraged people to "call-in" if the feel a little sick, I suspect there will surges in the swine flu on fridays, near thankgiving and christmas holidays.. cough..cough
The only fear I will have is the fear of watching or reading media reports about the 'evil doer' flu virus.
NO !!!
Wash your hands allot and don't touch your face till you do.
Simple and effective
David
Hi Jack,
No, I'm making sure to have healthy prevention practices as well as not putting people at risk if we are facing a fever at work, at school or at home...will be getting the flu shots only for the second time in my own adult life!
If there is a local outbreak, I will avoid crowds.
No but I might be more mindful of handwashing and using more handi-wipes to clean off carts in large chain or grocery stores. My worry is that parents will be sending their kids back to school too quickly because they can't be "burdened" to have their sick child at home while they deal with their own "over-scheduled" lives. The schools will suffer the most.
Not much, Jack. One can take the sensible precautions, keep oneself as healthy as possible by eating right, taking vitamins, and doing what one can to avoid situations where contamination is likely, but it is all really a crapshoot. I'm one of those who cannot take most flu shots, and without medical insurance and working for an hourly rate, I just have to do what I can to minimize the danger. I've educated myself on the symptoms, which is essential, and am aware of what to do if I get sick.
That's all ANYONE can do, reasonably.
I refuse to let some virus control my life. I wash my hands frequently and trust my body to fight off what gets through. Mind you I'm Canadian so all I have to do is go to the doctor that I chose and wait out that agonizing 10 or 15 minutes to get my flu shot . Not like the greatest nation in the world where you have to sell one of your kids , bribe a politician and hope that your doctor paid for his supply of flu shots instead of some golf coarse membership. Good luck to you and yours Jack.
No, Jack. thanks to the recession my wife and I don't get out much anymore anyhow so a possable swine flu outbreak makes NO difference in our lives.
Will the fear of getting swine flu change your daily life this fall?
Who says I'm "fearful" of getting the swine flu?
If I wash my hand, sneeze and/or cough into my arm, stay away from large heavily populated areas like malls during the rush, wear a mask around those who appear to be sick.. I probably won't get the flu.
If I feel something coming on, I know to call my doctor, stay home from work and/or school to not infect anyone, drink plenty of fluids and rest, I will be fine in a matter of days..
Its really using common sense. Fear is only fear, It doesn't protect you from anything.
Jenna
Roseville CA
I'll try to avoid crowds, wash my hands regularly and make sure to eat helthy and get to bed early.
Pam holt. -foley,al. I started worrying at least 2 years ago after I found an article on WHO warning about a virus comming out of Mexico, which there was no cure. This swine flu was obviously the virus mentioned.I forwarded the article to Lou Donna , but since I had 6computers hi-jacked during the presidential campaign, I am not sure how long my e-mails,etc.werebeing monitoured, and whether they were sent out. I will take precautions now, especially with a new grandchild. I am very angry that our government, because of allowing our country to be invaded, has put us in such danger,and threatened our county security....
No, I'll just take my home preventative to avoid it. Haven't had the flu since I started in "74. Also good against fleas, ticks, and mosquitos–have not been bitten since "74.
I have no fear of the swine flu, and I think the media is trying to create one. The swine flu is just like every other flu on the planet and I wish the media outlets would lay off already. Stop trying to scare people.
NO. I've seen nothing to imply that the swine flu is any worse than any other strain of the flu, even if it did get more media coverage than the normal virus. I don't plan on changing anything until there's proof that it's much more likely to kill me than any of the other thousands of flu viruses that have been around forever.
I was planning to buy a new game-day t-shirt on campus to take advantage of my alumni discount but I've decided to pay a couple of extra dollars to get one at the mall instead, or maybe order on-line. The kids are so contagious I don't even want to breathe around them. I've got season tickets and fully intend to use them even if I'm dead.
The more important issue is whether the football team will have it -guess we'll find out how the Tide is rolling on Saturday night! As far as tailgating goes – we'll just have to hope the beer will kill the germs...oh, if you think there's more to life than football, you're obviously not from around here and you need to get your priorities in order.
Susan
Tuscaloosa AL.
Considering the fact that it has claimed less lives than the regular flu, I'll just ignore the frenzy created by the media.
Not at all, It's all hype allot more people dye from Asian flu than h1n1 it has been over blown to the point of being a bad joke.
Just a little. My family of four will be a bit more diligent hand washers than previous years & we have made sure we have new/not expired acetominophen for both my wife & I, and for the kids in our medicine cabinet.
Funny thing jack, I'm trying to catch it. I want to prove to these people there's no need to panic. Will it make one sick? Sure, its the flu. Your viewers have more of a chance dying in a car accident on their way to get groceries. How about instead of talking about this H1n1, we just tell everyone to stop driving. Anyways, if you hear of anyone infected...give me a shout.
Mr. Cafferty
I don't see why it should, if the citys have the medications that this country can make, in short supply or not, we should not be in fear in the best medicaly advanced country in the world. And if they donot have it, then it is from poor planning, or just flat out greed. But people should not be in fear when it come's to having a nice time with loved ones and friends.
Swine flu fears? I can't be afraid of mother nature, Jack, she is just too beautiful on the whole.
Only slightly. I may increase my daily consumption of martinis to ensure no flu germs can survive in my alcohol system and will put off making blood donations until next Spring.
Gary Boyd, Scottsdale, Arizona
Not really but after I get through shopping I will get in my car and grab my bottle of soap in a bottle and wash my hands with the gel until I can get home and really wash them good.
It already has Jack. We wash our hands more, which is a good habit. We avoid areas where there are large gatherings of people. Welcome back Jack, we missed you.
Not even close.
If practicing basic health routines like washing your hands and covering your cough are good enough to slow down the contraction, or even stop it, then there's really no reason to freak out over something so easy to overcome. It's like they're trying to make "a mountain out of a molehill."
[This comment was posted from the 'you blink, you miss it' city of Rose City, MI]
What is all the hype its a good deal. I have seen so many people suffer for years if not decades before death, debilitation, pain, loss of function and control of the body. Swine flu is a gift from god, your sick for a week then youre dead. That is a good deal.
I think in order to prevent this flu from affecting so many people we will need to change our daily life. Maybe if people stay home more and avoid huge crowds of people you can cut down on the chance you might have to catch it. It is bad enough children have to go to school that is a hot bed of germs for the most part. I know the schools are trying to keep things clean and taking precautions but it is almost and impossible situation.
H1N1 concerns/fears changed my daily life a few months back. I have twin boys attending college and they happened to go to summer school down in Richmond, VA. My wife and I have scrubbed their apartment and send them daily test messages and emails reminding them to wash their hands when they touch public doors in and around the school and to avoid friends that seem to have colds or allergies. We have taken similar precautions at my Church when Communion elements are being served and we are constantly looking for additional ways to be careful and more sensitive to ways to minimize catching the H1N1 flue.
Steve
Clifton, VA
I hope my kids and myself get the swine flu now while it's mild. What if it mutates and joins with the infamous bird flu Jack. I don't think there is anything scarier than Flying-Pig Flu.
No, Jack. The poor economy has pretty much changed my daily life already...I don't go anywhere now days except work, church, and the grocery store...I'm a teacher and I have plenty of hand sanitizer, lysol spray, and kleenex on hand....and I don't plan on getting a flu shot either....the last time I did, I nearly died......so when the parents start sending their kids to school sick...we'll just send back home for 10 days......and get out the masks
jyll from TX
Zzzzzzzzzzzz…. Uh…oh….ummm, no. I’m not in school and I’ve been mostly unemployed for 6 years. I can’t even find an opening to apply to so there’s little chance I will get exposed. Besides, we’ve been through these scares before, and I still don’t trust DHS much more than I did when Bush was screwing it up.
Jack: Fear of contacting the Swine Flu is not as alarming as to what the government will do next regarding all of the difficulties that are facing this nation. The swine flu is a temporary annoyance-–the government is a terminal illness.
Currently I do not fear a swine flu outbreak this fall so I do not plan on making any changes in my daily life this fall. I do plan on continuing my workout schedule to lose some weight not anything to do with the flu. I do expect as usual I will get my normal flu shot which has historically been in November and which I've done for years without any of the side affects some people claim they have if they get the shot. I will also once again bug my wife to get a flu shot but she probably will not listen to me again – as usual. I should add that it has been a couple of decades since I've had the flu so I'm not that concerned
The swine flu threat will probably not change my habits, but will worry me a great deal. My granddaughter is a pre-school teacher. Other family members aiso work in the public. We can only hope it will not be too bad.
Jack, I'm scared to death. As of yesterday, the CDC hadn't directed my daughter's pediatrician on whether or not a seasonal flu shot would be necessary prior to release of the H1N1 vaccine, which won't be available until October. Something tells me that washing hands and sneezing onto your arm or sleeve isn't going to cut it, especially for elementary students.
We will continue with washing our hands often, and if we are sick, we will stay home!
I think the best think I can do is to eat healthy and avoid overly crowded places and refrain from sex. Well, maybe the first two for sure.
There was a recent news report that the President of Colombia now has swine flu. This goes to show you that, no matter how important your position in life may be, everyone is equally vulnerable to this ominous virus. I think that this virus has the potential to turn into a serious pandemic, so we should all take its threat very seriously and exercise caution as much as possible.
Each and every year the flu comes around, people catch it and may or may not die as a result. The only difference between this flu and other flu viruses is the attention it has received from the media. I refuse to live in fear of a media event.
Unless I get it on the golf course it probably won't bother me.
Jack, back in the day, people weren't coddled like they are today. There is a pill or a shot for every malady you can think of. When we got the flu we took aspirin and went to bed for a couple of days while our bodies produced antibodies that would overtake the virus and make us well. All in all, we were a much healthier society for it. Today, with all the antibacterial this and that, people's bodies don't create antibodies ... so they get sick. I haven't had the flu in 40 years and can't remember when I last had a cold. So, to answer your question; I don't fear the flu, so it won't change my way of life one bit this fall.
Yes. The swine flu pandemic has caused me to daily root for health insurance overhaul, so that our nation will be prepared when disaster strikes. We're looking at sky-high numbers of people getting sick, and health coverage that does not cover proper treatment.
If even 1 person dies because they are afraid of the cost of seeing a doctor for this, we have failed. Greed cannot trump human life.
I'm not too worried about catching H1N1 myself but sure don't want to pass it on to my elderly mother so I will limit my exposure to large numbers of people by revising my daily routine. For example, I'll go grocery shopping very late at night when fewer people will be at the store and I will wash my hands more frequently throughout the day.
Brownwood, Texas
No, it will NOT change anything I do this fall.
I do NOT spend a lot of time in crowded places.
When I go shopping or out to eat, and have to use the rest room, I WASH MY HANDS (unlike MANY people I have come across in the restrooms!) I of course also wash my hands when using the bathroom at home!
I will get a shot if they provide one, just like I get my regular flu shot every single year.
It is just amazing to me that some people are in a real tizzy about the illness (I do NOT call it the swine flu because it really has nothing to do with swine and I'm NOT going to let it scare me into foregoing a nice slice of bacon or a ham sandwich!)
Why are we so afraid all the time? I'm more worried about us always being in fear of something than I am of ANY flu!
The swine flu is going to change me into a hermit I can feel the hair grow as i wright to your blog there's no safe haven except at home with the blind's pulled down and the cover's pulled over my head only leaving home in disguise with my safety glasses and surgical mask to go see my heart doctor trying to avoid every sneeze or cough treating every body as if they have the koodie's going to the supermarket only after midnight to avoid the day creatures . maybe all thats being a little too perinoid huh.
I have become absolutely immune to all of the news media hype about the next coming disaster. If scientist are saying that 30 to 50% of Americans could get the flu then there must be scientist on the other end of the spectrum saying less than 10% will get the flu. We had Jimmy Carter declaring the coming of the next ice age during his presidency, now we have global warming. I will not be changing anything in my daily routines until i can see for myself verifiable evidence of an issue.
I'm not worried. My wife and I acquired the H1N1 Virus during the first week in May. As far as viruses are concerned, it was the worst bug of our lives. But, on a positive note, we are now comfortably immune. Jack, my advise to you is to wash your hands like a freak with OCD. May God protect you and the rest of you "Luckos" out there who have yet to be infected.
It will make no diff. whatsoever. I was raised on a farm in Nebraska many years ago. Sanitary conditions were virtually non existent. Me and the pigs got along very well. I developed an imunity that has protected me for over 70 years. No worries about a little swine flu.
Nope,I'll just keep using "Universal Precautions."
These should be taught to school kids as part of the regular curicullum from an early age.
First of all in my experience Jack, what you fear the most always comes upon you, so I choose not to fear this or anything else. Such fears aren't good for the body's immune system to begin with since you set up stress points long before its necessary. Our oldest son has had it, he says it lasted over 2 weeks, said he really felt bad and even temporarily lost his voice, a bad thing for a radio disc jockey.
Geri – Mead, OK
Well, I know two people who had it recently, its like the regular flu according to them, and I've had that already. Although not pleasant, we got through it.
Is the panic the media is trying to create designed to help push the health plan through?
Just wondering........
It sure has changed my daily life. I am a primary care physician and my daily life consists of a waiting room full of coughing, sick people!
Jack;
Absolutely! When the public starts getting their swine flu injections in mid-October – the pandemic will begin, as it did in 1976.
I'm not afraid of the flu; I'm afraid of the vaccine.
On the calendar for this fall is one important event – get vaccinated for the swine flu. When medical personnel talk about thousands dying from the flu, we all need to take heed. Even if the flu doesn't kill you, it can make you feel really bad and possibly cause you to incur some hospital bills. I hope everyone that gets it will stay isolated until they are no longer contagious. I have plenty of anit-bacterial soap lined up for the constant washing of our hands. There's no need to get paranoid – or is there?
At this point it's just a media frenzy and I'm not going to worry about it. I will just keep washing my hands and sneezing into my sleeve like I have done for years. This swine flu has caused the death of less people then the regular flu.
Curly – Wisconsin
Every year I get whatever flu shot is available because it might keep me from being sick that winter, and as a health-care worker I learned that washing your hands carefully is important and actually very effective in preventing the spread of illnesses. I will just be sure to do the same this winter, and I am glad my grown children know these things too.
Not really....We have been experiencing deaths from the flu all over the country for years and until this disease or any disease becomes an outright pandemic, we should take the normal precautions as with any flu or virus.
I'm not going to panic,Jack. That's the worse thing people could do. I'll just go get one or more flu shots this fall and see what happens.
It will not change my daily life too much, but I will be washing my hands and using hand sanitizer more often.
Yes, I'm going to up my alcohol consumptions starting right now. It's 5 PM somewhere.
Jack, every time when flu season comes I have to reorganize my daily life by washing hands, covering my mouth, and taking my meds. I'm not scared of this kind of flu, but I'm scared I won't get the right treatment in time if I catch it.
No, Jack. I practice Alchemy, and have not had a cold or flu in over seventeen years. I am immune to the Swine Flu.
–Stephen Fox
Panama City, FL
Change my daily life, NO don't think so. Having an ill mate with two types of cancer in our home there isn't anything that I could, or would change. If I changed, I would not be living up to my promise, and that is to do everything possible to make her comfortable, and painless. Swine flu will have to take the back seat here....
Yes, as a mother of two children under 2 I'm thinking of becoming a hermit. It really scares me to be around large groups of people. The swine flu has scared the poo out of me and I definitely do not want my children catching it!
No Jack. If I get it, I will go to the doctor. My chance of dying from H1N1 is represented by the number to the right ( 0.000296053 ) based on $304 Million people in the U.S. and the full 96,000 estimated death potential. That's aboutr 1 in 3,167. I think I will invest in a Helmut. The chances of dying after falling down are 1 in 246 or 1.5 million people this year.
It won't change the way I live my life, but I hope it changes the decision-making of those who experience symptoms of the swine flu. My university has sent out a notice that they are already experiencing several suspected cases and telling those who think they're sick to stay home for the safety of others.
I'm not concerned about Swine Flu and I won't be getting a vaccination. But if I hear of a Wine Flu, THEN I will pay attention.
I thought this virus was H1N1 and they had dropped the "swine" label after the Egyptians put 300,000 to pigs to death for no apparent reason. Evidently to save them from catching the flu. How about a little clarification? Is it swine flu or is it H1N1? Not that it matters if I catch it, I guess.
I go to Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio, and there are at least 110 current cases. Individuals who are believed to be infected have been asked to go home, or are quarantined in University developed isolation areas. Major University social events have been cancelled for a week since the major breakout, but other than that my personal daily life has not changed, and it will not change. Everyone here is reported to have "mild to moderate symptoms" and those who've already recovered feel fine. After seeing people recover, I see no reason to change my current lifestyle.
If I was of Hispanic decent it would worry me. Have you noticed how the majority of people that have died are of Spanish/Hispanic decent? This is a flu designed for Genetic cleansing, created & released to kill a certain race of people with certain Genomes. There are many different such Genetic virus's created by different Governments. I do worry though about my wife & her family members that are of Hispanic decent. I would be very fearful of the SUPPOSED CURE ALSO, the H1N1 shoots that are being forced on the people or be fined $1000 for refusing to get them. NOW WHATS UP WITH THIS FORCED VACINATION PICTURE Jack??
Why should it change my life? I have no health insurance, and actually think I had it during the first round last spring. (But, since I couldn't afford a doctor, I rode it out.) If I get it again and die, I guess the conservatives will be happy because there's one less uninsured liberal around.
The news is full of stories about how to avoid spreading or getting swine flu. But...I've never heard anyone comment on what I think is a super way to keep it going and make more people sick. It's the communal pen you have to use to sign the machine that you run your card through when making a credit or debit card purchase. I think these things should be banned altogether. I'm on the verge of refusing to touch the pens but how do I then make a purchase? Wish someone would do something about this- ban the machines, as I said above!!!
I am so sick of this swine flu media hype. I think people are reporting it to scare americans. By the way, It will not change how i live because i know i'm not going to get it and none of my family's getting it. So why is everyone so worried?
Jack...
I teach high school, and I don't see much of a change in my duties, but the percentage of exposure is a psychological concern. The vaccines may not be ready etc. etc. Just play it safe and get the H1N1 vaccine ASAP.
John
Pampa, TX
I will be concerned for myself and loved ones. We should already be taking such precautions as washing hands, covering our coughs but i will not go out of my way to avoid going to public places.
-Amber IA
Jack–
I think that I will take better care of myself and my family by washing our hands more often, getting plenty of rest, eating right, and staying home if I'm ill.
No – I think the seriousness of Swine Flu is greatly over-hyped. Think how many businesses are making out! ANd wonder how much they contribute to campaign war chests? People who have flu symptoms are supposed to stay home. Instead they are dragging themselves & their kids to local ERs which are a great breeding ground for ALL germs.
So what if a thousand or a million or more people die – the country & planet are overcrowded.
To some extent yes. I am a substitute teacher – the more teachers who get sick, the more I will be called in to work. If too many kids get sick and they close the schools I'll be out of work.
You better believe i will be getting the shots as soon as i can.
The fear I have is not for myself but for our asthmatic grandchildren. Without the vaccine being ready BEFORE the expected outbreak, they are in dire jeopardy. School attendance will remain mandatory..... even for those most at risk like our grandkids. Something has to be done.
Perhaps; but what worry's me more is the vaccines are not produced here but are developed in Great Britain. If there are shortages of this vaccine, Great Britain may decide to care for their own populace first before shipping flu vaccine to the United States. We need to produce these vaccines here and not rely on overseas labs.
I will be checking my email for health updates from my college age son. He has modest health care benefits as a graduate student, but colleges, it seems, are not taking this topic as seriously as they do other topics (such as their sports teams).
Cathy
Shamokin Dam
Pennsylvania
No, I don't let FEAR govern my life. I wash my hands frequently, anyway, and rarely cough or sneeze; when I do, I always have a kleenex handy. And I will NOT be getting the vaccine... I have two friends who took the vaccine in 1968, and have had neurological & other health problems, ever since. I had the flu then, and didn't die; I'm betting I'm too tough to kill, again, this time.
No, I am in good health and plan to stay that way.
Yes Jack, it will change my daily life. I have a condition called sarcoidosis and if I get this flu, or the regular flu for that matter I run a higher risk of getting sicker than most people. Bernie Mack had this condition and when he got pnuemonia it killed him because this disease weakens your lungs. I manange a retail store therefore I am in contact with many people on an daily basis, so, yes, I am washing and sanitizing A LOT every day, and taking many vitamins also.
Carla,
Eldon, Mo
No, it wont change the way how I live. Honestly becoming a person with Mysophobia or being a germaphobic wont help. Every day we go out side we touch a mail box we touch money we touch something some one has before who really is going to self quarantine themselves to a room constantly cleaning. I am going to go out do my job and what will be will be, you cant change what happens. We take a risk just by living so why freak out now?
-gareth Greenville SC
Yes Jack, I'll be washing my hands all day long. But my big wotty is my daughter. She's pregnant, works in a hospital & has two kids in day care. Makes her highly suseptable.
Jack, I fear that some people will not heed the warnings and take the needed precautions to keep this illness in check. With the average family struggling to survive the downturn in the economy and many without healthcare coverage that pays sick days. I am afraid that they will try to go to work anyway, sick . I had to work sick in my younger years while trying to help keep my family afloat...So, Yes I'm somewhat afraid...
School has been in session for 2 weeks in La. We have had a number of TypeA flu, reported in the area schools, We just have to cope with the threat, take the usual precautions. ..... and hope for the best.
Dear God, no Jack. Im not getting a vaccine that gives me the disease anyway. Im not going to allow myself to be over-medicated, or buy bogus "vitamin cocktails" to "prevent" this hyped-up disease. And Im definitely not getting worked up over media alarmism. Im going to sit back and watch the further dismantling of sense in the western world, as everyone rushes to the emergency room whenever a member of their family coughs. See you on the other side, Jack.
Ryan
Delray Beach, Florida
Come on, are we still living with Bush. More people die of the regular flu and get sick from it every year. Why are we so paranoid. This country is a bunch of sissies and the media should quit trying to scare everyone. You guys do the same thing by giving these idiots that believed in Death panels and squads. Lets get back to facts when reporting tings. Walter Cronkite said before he died was, I don't like the news today its more of opinion and not fact based journalism.
No, it will not. I am participating in the vaccine study and am on the way to get my second shot right now.
Will swine flu fears change your daily life this fall?
To answer your question, No, I will not change my life. The recession has made my life more miserable than getting the H1N1 virus could.
It shouldn't keep me from normal daily activities, but I will make sure the hand sanitizer and tissues are nearby!!
Michele
Dallas
Jack, my only fear of swine flu would come if someone donates the swine flu to me because I'm sure as heck not going to go out in search of it.. If someone donates the flu to me I would probably change my daily life a bit.
I'm a college professor. I'm surrounded by students every day. I'm pretty much certain to get the swine flu at some point. I'm just going to live my life, and enjoy being healthy for as long as I can. What else can I do?
I am a nurse, and found out that my hospital group is telling everyone that if they do not take the two vaccine shots against this flu, they will lose their job. A barely tested vaccine. And if we have sick kids at home, we must come to work anyway. They say its to protect our patients and our families. I think they have gone to the extreme.
I start popping echinacea, wash my hands a lot, and if it gets really bad, I'll go to the grocery store in the very late evening hours. Other than that, I'm not going to worry about it.
How ironic this is happeneing when trying to get a universal health care bill passed. maybe president obama should use scare tatics like the bush adminstration did for the iraq war, you know, "weapons of mass swine flu".
Not changing much, as I already wash hands and use Purell, to keep from catching whatever is going around. As a senior citizen, I probably won't be offered the H1N1 vaccine, so if I will take plenty of vitamin D, I hear I will be less likely to get it, or if I do, that it will be as serious. I plan not to lose nay sleep worrying about it.
Yes. I'll be living on the edge. I'm not so worried for myself as I am about my husband,son,and grandchildren. My husband has a form of cancer and therefore a compromised immune system. I won't want him to go out of the house. My son started Law School and will be on a college campus. He is twentyseven. Just in that age group that is supposed to be susceptible. My three year old grandson starts pre-school this month and will also be mingling with other vulnerable children. He has a sixteen month old little sister and the children's wonderful Mother. If the wrong things happen,my whole family could be wiped out. I,as everyone else,has little left to do but pray.
No it wont, why dont you publish how many people die a year of normal flu? they say between 35,000 – 45,000 people a year die of normal flu. you guys need to quit making this swine flu sound worse then it already is. for years people have died of the flu but no news station has every made it an issue. 400,000 die a year from smoking, when was the last time you talked about that? 75,000 a year die from alcholol related deaths. again, not a big deal cause you can't make it "scary" and sell your ad's. what about the 40,000 women who die each year from breast cancer? when was the last time you spent weeks discussing that? hell, they ever have breast cancer awareness month, are we to believe that based on your constant coverage of the swine flu that we will have a national swine flu awareness month? give me a break cnn, or should i say Constantly Negative News network cause that is all you talk about is negative issues in our world. why dont you grow some balls & actually promote some positive issues in this world? oh thats right, it wont make you any money. bastards
I am a registered nurse and my husband is a police officer. He tested positive for H1N1 last Thurs and my 2yr old, 5 month old, and I are still well thanks to excellent personal hygiene. I kept him in our bedroom and used protective personal equipment known as PPE every time I went in to care for him. 8 cans of Lysol, 20 bottles of hand sanitizer, and lots of Chicken Soup...we're all well. Wash your hands. Cover your cough. We can survive this...we just have to pay attention!
Not much. I'm already a germophobe who carries handwipes with me everywhere, and uses them after every public encounter. I never get flu shots, and I won't be getting one this year, especially their virtually untested H1N1 vaccine. I remember the Swine Flu vaccines from 1976 that gave people Guillain-Barr Syndrome. Thanks, but no thanks. If things get bad, I'll probably wear a face mask when I go out. I rarely go out anymore, only when absolutely necessary, so that won't inconvenience me much.
Yes. I intend to stay home as much as possible and out of close quaters with the public. Avoid walking next to or behind people who don't cover their mouths when sneezing and coughing. Avoid touching the hands of people who cough and sneeze into them. Avoid touching my change when the cashier has coughed or sneezed into their hands before giving it to me.
Wearing a N95 face mask and protective googles in an attempt to not give the virus an entry into my body. And above all, washing my hand so much that they become permanently wrinkled!!
No one said 30 to 50% of the population would catch Swine Flu. They said up to 50% could become infected with the virus, not come down with the illness.
To govern any of one's actions with fear is the mark of a fool, which we all should have learned over the past 8 years. When the powers that be play upon irrational fears as they are now doing again with the threat of H1N1, stay alert, but watch closely for changes. The last administration showed us what happens when our national "security" was "threatened"...what may be in store from our current administration now that our "health" is threatened?
Granville, OH
I plan to stay away from people as much as posible.I go for a Dental appointment and an eye exam next week when the President makes his big health care announcement.I hope I can cheer and see"What's Up". It had better have the Public Option with all the goodies,so,we can cancel tax cuts,get out of Iraq and Afghanistan,toreduce military spending, and we will be able to pay for the health care system and live in peace. Gene
Jack, as I lay here in bed because I'm sick and thanking God I have insurance, I see this as another way to distract from the debacle that is(or should I say isn't?) the Healthcare Bill. Or Afganistan. Or job loss. Or banking as usual. Or foreclosure. The irony, is that so many people cant afford to go to the doctor or get a flu shot because of unemployment, not having a healthcare bill that offers all of the future sick people any insurance, because of all of the money we are spending in Afganistan....And here I thought we were girding our loins for change. The only thing that has changed is that the explaination by the person in charge about why nothing has changed is well-spoken and articulate. FUBAR
I believe that if your going to get your going to get it. Precaution and daily routines like washing hands are important but if I was going to stress it I'll drive myself crazy , know I'm just trying to pay my bills on time.
No, it is not changing anything in my daily life. I am doing what I have always been doing, and appearantly what no one else is talking about on the News as a precaution. I am boosting my immune system, and if I get flu like symptoms, I resort to using raw garlic. A practical cure dating back to ancient egyptians.
I am not waiting for a vaccine, nor will I need it. Using what I just described, I was able to kill off the flu bug just a few weeks ago. Most of the food we eat leaves people vulnerable to viral infections. Perhaps some public education in natural medicine will do us some good.
The medication for swine flu has not been tested yet.and contains mercury.Go to Steven johnson syndrom and see how many people die from wrong medication.I had it, lucky me I am still alive,in one day gained 40 lbs.
My niece in Greece has a drug store,She is reach already,wait when winter comes.
These are all good propaganta for Doctors and pharmacutical Companies
I'm more affraid of th "cure" or "prevention" of this swine flu. Take care of yourself , Vitamins and such. Wash hands regularly and try to avoid people who look really sick. Other than that I keep my Advanced Cellular Sliver (Ag Cellular Silver) on hand.. It has kept me from getting the flu so far and lessened the symptoms for my family. Do your own research and don't just do something because the CDC says to. We live in the US and fight for freedom , that should include our right to choose and not be scared to do something that could be worse than the just getting the flu.
Hi, Cafferty! Love your show and humor! Just when i reach into my pocket and find nothing there due to the economy, im handed change from an employee thats probably got the H1N1 virus on it! " Thanks", i reply as i walk off to the next qurantine so that my grandmother (who I take care of after her stroke) doesnt get infected since there is no word that the vaccine will be given to someone her age! Lets bankrupt social security, screw up health care, and let you get deathly sick since nobody cares about someone her age! It seems NOBODY cares about the elderly anymore! Shes worked hard, paid her dues & taxes so why isnt she like thousands going to be vaccined with the health workers?
Probally not drastically, but I will pay extra attention if anyone I know has symptoms of the flu(swine flu or not) Unless this flu becomes like the 1918 spanish flu I think we should be all right.
Running scared isn't part of my psyche, Jack. If it comes, I'll deal with it. Calmly.
Jack, Australia is now finishing their winter season and they had nothing unusual occur with the swine flu. This is a scare tactic to get the drug companies more profits – is that possible???? The real scare tactic should be the chance of getting Guillain-Barre which is also called French Polio. I know – I suffered through the paralysis of it. Immunizations can bring this on – give me the flu anyday. I had to crawl on the floor for 5 month and I am still numb in my feet.. This is just the flu. What I am going to do is to avoid crowds in the winter, wash my hands more, and take lots of vitamin C to boost my immune system – what I do every winter. Common sense, Jack.
Jack: Yes, it will change my life in small ways: probably not going to the movies very much or going to crowded sports areans; limiting the number of hand shakes: maybe that Barack and Michell Obama knucle bump we saw during the campaign will be the method de jour to say hello!
Like most parents with young children, I am more worried about them then I am for myself. I've stocked up on hand sanitizers for both my wife and I as well as ones for our kids. Also started teaching them how to wash their hands, not put everything they find in their mouths (their only one and two), not going anywhere unless we have to, and plan for us all to get the flu shot. But the biggest change of all has been that I now have one more item to add to the list of things I ask God to protect my wife and children from every night I pray for them – the swine flu.
Hi Jack,
No I have no plans of getting the flu shot. I have M.S. and am taking Tysabri infusion once a month already. prior to getting diagnosed with M.S. i have gotten the flu shot twice and both years i caught the flu. over 34 years the worst i have had without the flu shot was a couple of ear infections. if the flu mutates after they create the shot it becomes useless anyways so whats the sense of getting a painful shot and getting sick from it in an attempt to not get sick from a flu you could catch anyways. I feel the best way to beat the flu is treat the symptoms and let your immune system do what it is designed to do. they didn't have this problem 50 years ago because you were not so worried about having your kids hands not get dirty peoples immune systems had a better chance of building up back then. after reading this make sure you squirt some hand santizer into your hands and maybe even go wash your eyes.......
Go play in the mud! The reason that the swine flu is such a threat is because our world has become so worried about germs, that we wash them away before we can build our ammunities in our bodies.
when this germ craze started, for those who keep track of it, you will see that the almighty dollar was behind it. some group just bomb barded us with the info that we already knew but kept throwing it into our faces every second of every day and convincing you that their product can stop it. i.e. pay me your money. I,ve always have encouraged my children to get dirty and play in the mud, while my neighbor washed her kids every second of every day when they were dirty. over the last eight years , her children have gotten sick six time more than mine, and she spent thousands of dollar to prevent sickness and all i spent was a few dollar on water to make the mud that my kids play in. if they passed a law that says no body can make a profit off germ killing products, we would not hear about germ prevention as much. then we can build our ammunities the natral way.
Mr. Cafferty,
I am a full-time college student in North Carolina. My major is Biochemistry / Biology, so I know a little bit about how the H1N1 virus works. I have found that the media is simple overblowing the H1N1 virus, just like the media did after the September 11th terrorist attack about homeland security. I believe that the media might be trying to cause a parnoia fear in the typical American, to maybe aid in the efforts to pass Obama's healthcare plan(s). The only facts about the H1N1 virus and other viruses has got lost in translation. First thing, in viruses, medical doctors can only treat the symptoms. Next, If you get around eight hours of sleep, take a daily vitamin, excerise, eat right, and always wash your hands, you will lower your chance of conducting the H1N1 virus. Moreover, the media seem to not mention that the possible vaccine, availiable later on in the year, will probably not be a cure to H1N1 virus because viruses mutant frequently, along with other scientific reasons. Finally, the only people that should truely worry about H1N1 are people with low immune systems, such as cancer patients, elderly and the young. In the typical teenager to mid-age adult, the H1N1 virus could make your symptoms worser than the regular flu. But to answer your question, I am not changing a single thing in my daily schedule. I find being afraid of getting infected by some microscopic virus is just so silly. If it happens, it happens. You just have to deal with it.
Americans only fear the things they are told to fear otherwise we resume our daily lives as normal not knowing what to fear.
Jack,
No, not really. I already wash my hands often during the day and avoid folks who are coughing and/or sneezing. Maybe that's one reason I can't remember the last time I had a cold or a bout with the flu. My parents taught me these simple rules of hygiene, I taught them to my daughter, she's teaching them to her sons. It's really pretty simple.
Jim
Reno, Nevada
The host today said that she was taking a vitamin cocktail to ward off the flu. This is poor journalism. Not only do I not care what she does, there is no data whatsoever that vitamins affect the flu. Please correct this. Also please, journalists spare as your personal lives and just honestly report the news.
Dear Jack, I worrie more so then most since im on medicare and Social Securty, which means im with in the death list that is going around ,that proubly mean no flu shoot for me, i worr y since the president did say he would not touch our benifits not now never, then where told that after 35 years of no one touching any of our benifits, that out of no where all medicare and social security will loose there , cost of liveing allowance, as if they din't know it was comeing, as far as im concerned obama had lied to all of us, not one year but two years. obama has managed to do what the republicans could never do. he has taken away the most inportant benifit to all of us , we just lost our last hope when teddy kennedy , knew our needs , and he was not affraid to use the four letter word even obama is afraid to say, "
POOR " the poorest of the poor are hurt badly , but it seems no one cares but us, after the word is " MIDDLE CLASS ", i now see his word can not be trusted, and other the us, no one seems to care,im shur the senate and congress will not affect them, our, food cost has not dropped .houseing , medical care will go up on us.he is looseing our support.cost effective mean takeing away benifits, the cost of liveing was our way to at least to try to hold on. and why din't president obama ask for all flags at half mast for the death for our greatest supporter, i look and i do not see him being honored by our goverment. why obama has mr. kennedy not been honored by you haveing flags at half staff. just another blunder, we proubly won't even get a flu shoot ,that will be taken away also ,jack we need some one to speak for us as we are being passed like teddy kennedy , the poorest of the poor ask for your help with a caferty file on why this is. ken
Fifty thousand people get killed in traffic accidents every year in the U.S. and yet we don't think twice about getting out on the road every day. Close to one million people die each year from heart disease, yet that isn't changing eating behaviors and we continue to get more obese as a nation. Some people will likely over react to this flu news, but not because it's the top thing they should worry about.
Only if my daughter gets sick before we can get flu shots.
LOL-God no. Its all big Pharma hype. They need to steal more money. and the real funny thing is they don't even have the mercury based vaccine yet
Well, the only change will be more vitamin C, D, and other natural ingredients than before. But then, it could be worse, I could be fired for not taking the toxic swine flu vaccine and maybe even arrested and placed in a FEMA quarintine camp. That would suck, big-time.
So, I guess once I get fired, I should probably leave the country. It sucks anyway.
I intend to buy some masks so that when I have to go to the doctor's office for routine visits no one sitting in the waiting room will kill me!
I didn't change my daily routine when our City had a major Menangitis scare in 1995 – so I won't change it for H1N1. The news media also needs to called H1N1 – calling it Swine flu is hurting an already troubled pork industry. I suspect this will be oveflown like SARS & Avaian flu were too.
Jack:
Absolutely, Washing hands more, using germicides and giving up the eucharist and doing as my doctor does: No shaking hands; Hey jack for all the naysayers; try this on 4 size. in 1918-19 this flu killed 3 ot of 7 family members; Mother, 2 teenaged children, Father, 2 sisters an 1 brother survived. It destroyed the fabric of the family. Question: Do children of survivors get an immunity via michrondial DNA?
Jon in Calif.
Jason Koloa of Hawaii is a Genius..."Flying Pig Flu"...now that is truly funny and puts everything into perspective. Great job Jason, I'll worry about H1N1 when Pigs Fly!
The only thing that concerns me about the fear of swine flu is the fear itself. I am not afraid. I am disgusted by the fear mongering created to sell vacccines at the expense of the tax payers. It is a manufactured fear campaign about a manufactured virus to manufacture the sale of the vaccines.
What should I do
Not fly? Not visit my customers?
Will have to continue..
Guy
The only thing to fear, Jack, my friend, is fear itself! And since I am habitual hand washer, who regularly drinks plenty of H2O and takes her vitamins, including the herb, Echinacea, I am not afraid.
I am concerned for our son who has chronic asthma.
Jack:
The H1N1 virus clobbered the economy, back earlier this year and with Mexico – i.e, air travel, cruise industry, restaurants, movie theaters, schools, etc. If this time it becomes worse it's going to slam this country even harder economically. You think the recession is bad now... Let's see how it is come late November if this hits like they say it might. I can tell you I will avoid everthing and everyone that I can, I'll become a hermit if I see it happens. Who likes the potential of becoming that sick... far worse even death!
John S.
Jack,
I've had it (confirmed by state lab), it wasn't that bad ( 2 on a scale of 1-10), and we need to take a breath. And no offense, but the media is not helping. Why no interviews of people like me who had no problems with the virus? Honestly, had i not have been on an international flight 6 days prior, I would not have even gone to the doctor. My feeling is that it is already much more wide-spread than we think. Stop the panic, but be smart.
Thanks Jack for your realistic views...Has anyone ever tell you that you are a real sweetheart! Hope your are blushing by now!!!