H1N1 (Swine Flu) virus udon Thani?

[macduff]

The UK is going to vaccinate the whole country's population. Great news at last.Soon as that happens i'm off to thailand at last

[BKKSTAN]

Hello all. Think we all worry a little where this will go. The birdflu got us worried even if nothing much happened in the end. I used a facemask during a couple of flights back then. Here are some tips Ive picked up along my 23 years in asia. First thing I do when arrive in Bkk, I put the remote control for TV in a plastic bag or plastic wrapping. The remote must be the dirtiest thing around, just think of it. How many nosepoking, buttscratching people pawed it before me? And of course the maids always use it. Then I change plastic wrapping every day.If staying longer than a few days in one place I wipe off handles and buttons with windowcleaner. Then comes the hardest part, getting people around me to wash their hands when in my place. Thai people usually think that there is no need to wash hands unless they have done no 2 when using the toilet. And also its easy to forget greasy handlebars on shoppingkarts and other stuff we touch when out shopping. Have managed to make it a game with my gf as to whom remembers first about washing hands upon entering our place. Now some of you are probably thinking that Im a nutcase, but truth is that Ive been much healthier since trying to follow these steps. Almost no more colds and throat infections. Plien

All great suggestions.Plien,but if you are going to holiday,put the remote in a drawer somewhere!

[RALPHCUSENS]

My wife, who is charged with the health and safety of the children at the school at which she is a teacher, has just returned from a meeting regarding H1N1, the following, is the figures as of 12oo hrs TODAY, as regards to the greater Udon area.


Total number of persons tested for H1N1 :171

Number tested negative ; 78

Number Positive ; 34

New cases being tested to-day ; 8

Number confirmed but now symptom free ; 26

Number being treated ; 33 ( 9 in hospital, 24 at home)

The schools have been instructed to instigate stringent health controls within all schools.

[seymourbutts]

Thanks for that info Ralph... Maybe you could ask Nom a question for Pick me that may help others too??
As you may be aware Pick is now 6 1/2 months pregnant. I understand that pregnant women have a high risk of losing a pregnancy if they contract this flu!! My thoughts are that maybe this is true with lets say under 3 monmths gestation but no more risk at this stage!! What does Nom think?? Its a worry for us as we are in Uk and travelling back in 3 weeks through high risk places like the airport, bus's etc etc, when we get back flu free i will be relieved!!!

[RALPHCUSENS]

Dave, I don't believe that Nom would have much knowledge on this, but my thoughts for what its worth, is that the unborn baby would have the same immunity as the mother, as they rely on the mothers anti bodies during pregnancy, when they are born, they them start to build their own immune defenses.

I would say that an unborn child would surely have more immunity to any infection than that of a newly born or a young child.

[Kevro]

Hi Ralph,

Seem to remember you were residing in Nong Wua Sor At one stage but your location now says Udon Thani. I heard from my sister in law yesterday that Nong Wua Sor hospital has had its first case of H1N1 diagnosed. My sister in Law is also a teacher but I don't know her source for this info.

I was at the hospital myself last Wednesday having a big toe repaired after mistaking a small concrete step for a football. There was a hell of a lot of people there with flu like symptoms. A little concerning as now myself and my son have a mild dose of the flu.

Kevro

[Khun Paul]

people die every day from things that cannot be ascertained, nothing in this life is certain, well two things are, birth and death.
i sense some mild panic starting, it is only the Flu albneit a different strain to last years, it has collared the label swine flu although there is NO link to PIGS.
People die from flu every year but do we start to wear masks etc, NO
I agree keepinmg oneself healthy by uprating your personal hygenie is to be applauded and in fact should be the norm, however I man had apparantly died from swine flu, ( sorry tested positive for H1N1) does that mean he died from mit or he just had it.
Be real people, news isn't news unless people believe it, and I believe what i judge to be true not what a paper reported.
The fugures for Udon Thani are not bad when you consider the demographics of the town, the vast majority of the children will have visited the complex, night market and other densely populated areas in the last week and we still have less than 100 confirmed cases.
I'll say it again IT IS ONLY FLU AND EVEN THEN IT IS MILD.

[RALPHCUSENS]

Hi Kev, yes, still living the same place. In actual fact, Nong Wua Sor, has had two cases diagnosed, as of today.

But as KP stated, the numbers are far less than you would expect with the normal common flu, and the mortality rate as far as the Local Government is concerned, is very small, any deaths are normally attributed to pre-existing conditions, aggravated by the H1N1 virus.

[wazza]

it has collared the label swine flu although there is NO link to PIGS

K Paul

It got this name from the original outbreak in Mexico as the workers who first presented with the symptoms etc all worked a a nearby pig farm, hence the Swine flu classification given to it as it was originally thought to be associated with these farmed animals.

Several countries etc objected to this based on cultural and religious grounds, The Jews etc.

Mexico didnt want that Mexico Flu, due to adverse publicity, etc

The name that was given, was agreed on and thus it is today. Some media still call it mexican etc,

[RALPHCUSENS]

KP Wrote:

"The fugures for Udon Thani are not bad when you consider the demographics of the town, the vast majority of the children will have visited the complex, night market and other densely populated areas in the last week and we still have less than 100 confirmed cases."


The figures that I gave as supplied by the education Authority, were appertaining to all known cases, and not just those effecting children!

[Kevro]

Hi Kev, yes, still living the same place. In actual fact, Nong Wua Sor, has had two cases diagnosed, as of today.

But as KP stated, the numbers are far less than you would expect with the normal common flu, and the mortality rate as far as the Local Government is concerned, is very small, any deaths are normally attributed to pre-existing conditions, aggravated by the H1N1 virus.

Hi Ralph,

Just spoke to one of the hospital orderlies who lives in Nong Bua Baan (Down the road from you, sure you know) and yes he stated two cases at the hospital. Amazing how fast it moves around.

In Oz , an aboriginal reserve 500k's from Alice Springs in the middle of Australia with nothing much in between have 2 deaths from H1Ni.

Still its only considered a mild flu and overall deaths are low compared to other flu's.

Kevro

Kevro

[Irish Alan]

Health experts tell people to avoid public places

By Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation
Published on July 14, 2009



As the type-A (H1N1) virus spreads and claims more victims, the chorus to halt all forms of public life seems to be growing more strident.

"The transmission rate of the new flu virus from humans to humans will be drastically decreased if people across the country, including patients with flu-like symptoms, stay home and do not participate in any social gathering for two weeks," said Dr Tippawan Nagchinta, a health expert from the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Tippawan, who is a consultant from the CDC to the Field Epidemiology Training Programme, urged the government to tell people to avoid crowded places in order to slow down the increase in the H1N1 virus' fatality and infection rates.

She was speaking after a meeting with top-level health officers and experts from the country's leading medical schools in Bangkok at the Public Health Ministry.

If the government shuts down public spaces where people meet and hang out, including schools, cinemas and theatres, morbidity would immediately decrease, she said.

This lesson has already been borne out in the US, where infections among students were reduced rapidly after the CDC ordered some schools, where infected cases were found, to stop operating for two weeks, she said.

If the government could not ban all public areas, it should pick those places with the most cases, she said.

Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kachornprasart also said he personally believes it was now time to call off all classes to control the spread of the 2009 flu.

"The suspension should last two to four weeks during which a major clean-up operation would be conducted," he said.

"After that, the schools can resume classes and arrange make-up sessions later."

Sanan chairs the committee dealing with the disease. He also thought about promoting the use of facemasks.

"The Public Health Ministry plans to allocate Bt10 million for purchasing face masks," he said.

"All Cabinet members will wear face masks at their meeting to lead by example."

Sanan plans to seek Bt70 million from the Cabinet |today for public campaigns on how to guard against the pandemic.

Former public health minister Suchai Charoenratana-|kul also advised the govern-ment to close all schools for one week.

"All entertainment events should be withheld during the same period, too," he said.

The new flu is a real threat because its death toll here is the highest in Asia and the sixth highest in the world.

The government should also be cautious about the use of antiviral vaccine for the H1N1 flu, he said.

"Any rush may bring unwanted deaths and paralysis," he said.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2009/07 ... 107325.php

[wazza]

Schools , cinemas and suprised he didnt mention internet cafes ! then again, Siam Paragon has probbaly 10,000 people per day walking thru , not as much direct transmission, as most shopers would have some personal space , dont want to harm the tourists ??

The real issue is to have people to apply some self dicipline in their personal hygiene and to avoid going out of they have flu like symptoms.

[jane_doe]

bkk schools closed:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/435-Bangk ... 80294.html

[tutone]

The "Christian" elementary school on Udondutsadi Road closed this morning for the rest of the week because of the flu. No details. TGF returned home this morning with grandson. Said school closed one week, have flu.

[wazza]

For those who have partners or know of females who are pregnant, pls read this news item.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25 ... 77,00.html

[polehawk]

Here's a good link on the subject, courtesy of the git or bumper (Ray):

http://gilchrist.ca/jeff/H1N1/index.html

[arjay]

So how does one know if it is Swine Flu, or normal flu, or even just a cold?

I assume it would be accompanied by something of a fever, along with a distinct and strong feeling of being very unwell?! :-&

I've had what I refer to as the" sniffles" for the past couple of weeks, but no other symptoms, no fever, no sore throats etc. So I put that down to seasonal allergies, - things like pollen, dust, or mildew in the air from the wet weather, things which I tend to be allergic to anyway.

[BobHelm]

Friend of ours has just come back from spending a week or so in Kong Khai (province, not town). She said her father was ill with the flu & spent 3 days in hospital. She was also keen to point out it was not the H1N1 variety but just the standard stuff that floats around...
I guess the only way you will actually know if you have it (or have had it) is if you are so ill that a hospital visit is necessary & they check...
As you say RJ always plenty of rubbish floating around in the air anyway

[jimboLV]

The following is presented as a public service. I did not make this up.

Fans urged to drink whisky to ward off swine flu
Mon Aug 3, 2009 1:24pm EDT
By Gennady Fyodorov
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian soccer fans have been told to drink whisky on their trip to Wales for next month's World Cup qualifier to ward off the H1N1 swine flu virus, the head of the country's supporter association (VOB) said Monday.
"We urge our fans to drink a lot of Welsh whisky as a form of disinfection," VOB head Alexander Shprygin told Reuters.
"That should cure all symptoms of the disease."

http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEno ... 8Q20090803

So lets get busy, guys.