Swine flu could hit up to 40%

[WillieW]

Swine flu has already hit the United States harder than any other nation, but it has struck something of a glancing blow that's more surprising than devastating. The virus has killed about 300 Americans and experts believe it has sickened more than 1 million, comparable to a seasonal flu with the weird ability to keep spreading in the summer.

Health officials say flu cases may explode in the fall, when schools open and become germ factories, and the new estimates dramatize the need to have vaccines and other measures in place.

A world health official said the first vaccines are expected in September and October. The United States expects to begin testing on some volunteers in August, with 160 million doses ready in October.





http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090725/ap_on_he_me/us_med_swine_flu;_ylt=AmwV4v4Be.hfkP_VIhnFqD534T0D;_ylu=X3oDMTMycGlqZHFzBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwNzI1L3VzX21lZF9zd2luZV9mbHUEY3BvcwMyBHBvcwM1BHB0A3NlY3Rpb25zX2Nva2UEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDc3dpbmVmbHVjb3Vs

[Newshues]

1. I'm skipping the vaccine

I'm also encouraging my wife to get the vaccine since she works in health care.

I'm letting my kids have a larger influence on the decision for them than I would for most medical decisions involving them. One is 8 the other is 10 so this is also an exercise in releasing parental authority for us.

The 8 year old has had discussions about swine flu with her friends and is very solidly in the camp of getting the vaccine. The 10 year old is like a lawyer in training with the hypothetical questions and demands for supporting details. He's leaning towards not getting it.

The major difference between the two is the amount of discussion I've had with each of them over health issues in general. The 10 year old and I have had a number of talks about vaccines, the immune system and how things work with sickness while the 8 year old has never been so interested in the details.

I'm fortunate to live very close to a hospital that is well equipped to deal with a severe case of swine flu so that I can live with the 10 year olds decision should he decide to forgo the vaccine. My job in that case to to stay abreast of changes in the presentation of the virus so I know when to be very concerned.

I don't believe I won't get swine flu or that if I do it will be just a mild case. I also don't believe that it will kill me if I do get it. What I do believe is that we over use medicine in modern life. Given our proximity to a good hospital, actually we're within 5 minutes of 2 good hospitals, I have the luxury of making decisions knowing that there is a safety net if things get out of hand.

If we lived an hour from a good hospital we'd all be getting the vaccine.

If the government decides to mandate vaccinations we'll be rethinking the issue.

[Liquorice]

2. Eight and ten year olds are way too young to make their own decisions regarding health care. nt

[stray cat]

3. Thats good - there are people who need it that should be given priority

if you get sick and miss a week or two of work it isnt' a bit deal - it could be serious for some.

[Skidmore]

4. Frankly, I think far more people have had it than have been documented...

and survived. I swear we had it in Jan/Feb of this year. Sickest we both have been in our lives with the flu. My husband was treated for pneumonia and me for bronchitis. The symptoms for H1N1 which I read later pretty much matched our experience. He even commented to me about how many people he had heard about who were so sick then but was surprised that there were no health bulletins or news stories about it.