Whilst I hope that your son is well, this reminded me of a letter that my sister received when SwineFlu or as it is correctly called: N1H1 virus circulated about.  Well, my sister attends an international school with children of all different nationalities.  The letter stated that if the child had flu like symptons or even a cough (yes, just a cough) then the child would not be allowed to attend school.  Further stated that if the family members of the child had a cold or flu like symptons then the child couldn't attend school or even additional further to this: If their is an outbreak of the N1H1 virus, the school will be closed till further notice....

I think people are being quite excessive over this.  Most of the ''casualties' from the virus are people who already had health problems thus the media creates and circulates the terror of a 'lethal' virus.  When really, it is much more common sense and sensible to follow the basic rules of hygenie and be a little more careful than people are.

Although I greatly anticipate the day when my sister receives another letter from the school stating that the school will close down till further notice due to a SWEIN Flu epidemic....

One of my former bosses was an Environmental Health professional and one of his obsessions was the fact that people were no longer so stringent about basic cleanliness and handwashing.  He always maintained that primary school children in particular should always have to wash their hands at the start of school, before eating and again before going home.  The old adage of "coughs and sneezes spread diseases" was right!

I was speaking on the phone earlier to a friend whose baby son is only recently home from hospital having had a pacemaker fitted and hernia surgery.  As well as the heart problems the baby has chronic lung problems.  My friend and his wife are both really concerned about swine flu (H1N1 ) and are keeping their son at home and are restricting contact with visitors.  I haven't seen the baby yet and was meaning to go and visit, but I can't go now in case I pass anything to the baby.  Their little boy is at very high risk because of his other health problems.

Oh no, I have just noticed the error and I wish there was an edit button, so I'll repost:

Whilst I hope that your son is well, this reminded me of a letter that my sister received when SwineFlu or as it is correctly called: H1N1 virus circulated about.  Well, my sister attends an international school with children of all different nationalities.  The letter stated that if the child had flu like symptons or even a cough (yes, just a cough) then the child would not be allowed to attend school.  Further stated that if the family members of the child had a cold or flu like symptons then the child couldn't attend school or even additional further to this: If their is an outbreak of the H1N1 virus, the school will be closed till further notice....

I think people are being quite excessive over this.  Most of the ''casualties' from the virus are people who already had health problems thus the media creates and circulates the terror of a 'lethal' virus.  When really, it is much more common sense and sensible to follow the basic rules of hygenie and be a little more careful than people are.

Although I greatly anticipate the day when my sister receives another letter from the school stating that the school will close down till further notice due to a SWEIN Flu epidemic....

I'm quite confused and annoyed over that now...I thought that I checked all the errors...and had typed H1N1....thank you Marcia for pointing out the error...

I think it is the same for those who generally are at risk from FLU..those with weaker immune systems and/or health problems are more succeptable to the virus and are likely to get very ill from it...than those who don't...

I agree with this, Saft.  The general public attitude here, despite the best efforts of the media to create a panic, is that this is just the flu, but with a specific name.

On the radio yesterday there was a phone in about it, and people were pointing out that many people here die of flu every year, but television reporters don't go and stand outside the hospitals every time it happens.  I also noticed when I came online yesterday, a photograph of the flats where the woman who died lived with her family.  There were two police officers standing at the close entrance, and they must have been there to prevent reporters going in.

Yes, luckily here I haven't heard anything like this on the news at home.  I am of the opinion that they've forgotten about the N1H1 virus (but of course that is not true).  The media here just tend to not flow with the terrorising.

Oh d'oh, I did it again.. I can't seem to shake of the mental capacity that it should be N1H1 instead of H1N1.....well, you know what I mean.

Lol! I suspect that's why it's still being referred to as Swine Flu - it's easier.

I know it's H1N1 but as I type, I don't seem to get the 'message'..Oh well, third time lucky I suppose.

Neither is that obese people are more prone to respiratory problems. Thin people can have respiratory problems, too.

I didn't say that obese people were more prone to respiratory problems.  I said that if they did have respiratory problems caused by their obesity then they might be more likely to be severely affected by swine flu.  Respiratory problems have a variety of causes, and extreme obesity is one possible cause.

The women on my father's side of the family have a tendency to be obese, and none of them have respiratory problems.  They do have some other health issues related to their weight, but generally keep very good health.

there will will be option of choice when eventually a vaccine is developed.
I will be lining up for it.

I worked in a ward last night where a pt. was admitted with flu like symptoms.

A nurse came in full of excitement to tell us it was swine flu. A hospital full of sick vulnerable people and they admit someone with the flu.

The common sense of people will never csease to amaze me. And, whilst I'm not suggesting that the H1 N1 (got it right this time) person with the symptoms should be told to go back home, I do think that they should go on to a closed ward and have little to do with other sick admittees.

Right, and you don't think with the laundry list of other problems supposedly caused by obesity, that happens to just be another false claim?

From what I read in the link you gave there isn't anything to indicate a direct link, and I also expressed surprise that anyone would make such a link.

What I am saying is that anyone with respiratory problems is more likely to be more severely affected by swine flu, or any other similar ailment.

More like eating out on a regular basis will expose someone to the greater likelyhood of catching the 'flu. I suppose if their main diet consists of Golden Arches and Red Bucket menu the probability of the person being obese would be quite high and they would likely be in contact with many people who could have it. So their chance of getting it is greatly increased. Shopping centres with their recirculated airconditioning and high populations is a natural breeding ground for all sorts of bugs.

Its annoying when people don't look behind possible reasons between "connections".