Orlando Swine Flu (Possible?) Victim Quarantined

I am getting a bit sick of the run around we are all getting waiting to see if this Mexican tourist has Swine Flu! He is quarantined at Florida Hospital and swabs have been sent for him as well as (as I understand it) 79 others in Florida. The Mexican Tourist was at Disney World this past weekend.

Here is the interesting thing. Yesterday we discovered that 16-18 students from South Carolina have come down with flu symptoms after visiting Disney World here in Orlando the same weekend that the suspected Swine Flu tourist was there.

The school where the children go was closed today for disinfecting and I am not sure when it will re-open. Good for the intelligent people in South Carolina. Here in Orlando half of the people I speak with do not even know there is a man with possible Swine Flu who was at Disney this past weekend.

A man I spoke with yesterday was at Disney with 4 of his 6 kids over the weekend and was amazed that this story is not more in the news.

This virus can stay alive on a surface for 24 hours.

You must understand that tons of people have season passes to Disney and we treat it like a day at the mall. Additionally, so many people work there!!!!!

According to Reuters UK, Disney World representatives held a closed-door meeting with public health leaders on Thursday in Orlando to discuss the flu alert.

Orange County Health Department officials said that results should be in today to confirm, one way or another, whether the quarantined Mexican tourist has Swine Flu.

It's almost 6pm now..how long do we have to wait and why is it taking 24-48 hours longer than it takes for confirmation in other states?

Swine Flu in Orlando?

Right now everyone is trying to decide if we are getting the real story as to whether or not a Mexican tourist visiting Disney World has Swine Flu. Apparently a doctor at Florida Hospital (here in Orlando), sent an email this morning (I believe to news outlets) confirming that indeed the man has Swine Flu.

"A case was diagnosed here in Orlando today on a tourist from Mexico who came to Disney attractions two days ago to visit," CMO Loran Hauck wrote in an email obtained by Eyewitness News.

A short time later Dr. Scott Brady, with Florida Hospital, stepped up to the mike at a news conference and said basically that there is no Swine Flu, just regular flu.

"There have been no confirmed cases of swine flu by the CDC in Central Florida," Brady responded.

As we understand it, the sample has been shipped off to the CDC for confirmation but that is through the grapevine here in O-Town (correction - that was confirmed by Dr. Brady). There are many of us here that feel that they will not tell us the truth unless pushed by a positive test from the CDC because this could be detrimental to the land of Mickey’s gravy train...tourism.

Frankly, there are many of us feeling not too pleased that we cannot verify the real story.

Please click on the title above for more information.

Update - It has been confirmed that three nasal swabs have been sent to the CDC for confirmation of Swine Flu. We do not know if they were from three different people or just the Mexican tourist.

EU Warns Against Travel to United States and Mexico Due to Swine Flu

The European Union's Health Commissioner, Androulla Vassiliou, urged Europeans today to postpone nonessential travel to the United States or Mexico due to swine flu.

She told reporters "they should avoid traveling to Mexico or the United States of America unless it is very urgent for them." (AP)

The acting head of the CDC, Dr. Richard Besser, has said that this warning is not warranted.

This story is so important that I will give you one of my secrets...for up to the minute news on the Swine Flu outbreak , follow the CDC on Twitter for updates!

Now there is news that there may be a case in Michigan.

Swine Flu - The Next Pandemeic?

Swine Flu

Okay so we have cases of Swine Flu in Texas, New York, Southern California and Kansas. Apparently the Texas cases began at the first of this month. Did any of you hear about it? The WHO (World Health Organization) as of yesterday was holding off on raising the pandemic alert level. I wonder if today they will raise it? Currently we are level 3 of 6.

Have you seen the pics from Mexico City with their masks? Crazy. Will that be us in a few days or weeks? We have never seen cases like this in the US. These are not people with compromised immune systems. These are young, strong people. This Swine Flu consists of four different varieties of flu. Some doctors say that if you had a vaccine (you are brave) in the fall to protect you from the regular, run of the mill flu you may be protected because of the four part component of this Swine Flu. Most doctors (and our government) say that it will not help.

The good news is that products like TamiFlu ,may help if you take it soon enough. Let us all be diligent and look out for the following symptoms:

1. Chills
2. Fever of over 101
3. Almost constant cough
4. Body aches
5. This will not go away after 48 hours as the regular flu
6. SUDDEN DIZZINESS - THIS IS A BIG SIGN FOR SWINE FLU
   
7. Sore throat
   

Here is another big clue; as we are at the end of the regular flu season, if you are experiencing flu symptoms that could be a red flag. There is no reason to panic, just stay informed.

Hey wasn't our US Prez in Mexico City recently? They say he is fine. Apparently the key to whether or not this turns into a pandemic is the virus itself. We just do not know at this time if this will be virulent like 1918 when tens of millions of people died or whether it will just die out. If you are sick with flu like symptoms, you should go to the doctor.

If this does hit your community, it is important to keep your social distance from others, cover up when you cough, wash your hands and stay home if you are sick. You may also want to take a hint from those in Mexico City and wear a mask.

If it hits my home town of Orlando, we are staying home until it is gone which could take 6 to 8 weeks to clear communities.