Colo. flu cases surging at start

"Two Coloradans have died because of the swine flu this month and more than 170 have been hospitalized, an early and "extraordinary" start to the flu season that has doctors unsure about what to expect come winter..."

Doesn't sound very good. :-(

My bosses children have it.  Neighbors of another employee have  had it.  It doesn't seem any worse around here than any normal flu.  I would think that if everyone gets sick early they will have immunity to that strain and won't get sick again with the same strain of the virus.

It would be devastating if they decided to shut schools. Then most parents would have to figure out what to do with their kids or stay home, even if they're not sick.

It's been going on around here since the Spring - can't say I have heard of an upswing in cases here yet.  The library I work in just installed several professional hand-sanitizers (why they had to wait for the swine flu, I don't know), and we have posted signs from the Board of Health about what symptoms to look for, and if you have them, puhleeze stay home and not spread them around here.  Trying not to panic about this - have way too much other crap to worry about.

Have you seen the designed hand sanitizer? ha ha ha. Celebrities are going to make and endorse this stuff. :)

My daughter spent the weekend AND Monday night at my bosses house helping with the kids. 

I understand the idea behind hand sanitizers and hand washing but it is air borne!  It seems sort of inevitable if you're in that close contact.

yeah, hand sanitizer. every single office building i see now has it. a friend who is a professional painter told me that it is basically like paint thinner. i wonder if this is true. now if we could just get those rude people to cover their mouths when they sneeze/cough (the polite thing to do, anyway)

I think it's just alcohol in a gel form Kashmiri.  Very drying. 

The university medical center/school here was one of the half-dozen places where they were testing the vaccine, including about 20 pregnant women who volunteered.

The health dept is saying they expect 1/3 of the metro area to get the h1n1.

I work at a nursing home. The medical director (who is also the head of Geriatrics at the state's hospital) says that they massively over reacted and we're on normal flu precautions. Nothing else.

Another important defense in not getting this flu is SALINE NOSE SPRAY.  If you think you've been in a questionable air space, it's wise to get and carry a  bottle of saline nose spray (it's cheap!) and give your nose a couple of squirts and then blow.  The saline kills and cleans out anything questionable and the water keeps your sinus passages moist to keep germs from getting into your body. Winter air is known for being very dry thus drying out your sinus passages. I use it during allergy season but i also read that it's just as important as washing your hands and/or using hand sanitizers. Also, oregano oil is great for viral and bacterial infections. You've got to start it at the first sign of not feeling well.  Edgar Cayce said you could stop a cold in it's tracks by swabbing your nasal passages with vodka. I tried it once (It stings a bit,) and did stop a cold from getting a toe hold.

jilly your graph reminded me of the time i went into the dead sea. i found pathways into my body that i didn't even know existed.