Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/)

Swine_influenza

The 2009 flu outbreak in humans is due to a new strain of influenza A virus subtype H1N1 that derives in part from human influenza, avian influenza, and two separate strains of swine influenza. The origins of this new strain are unknown, and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) reports that it has not been isolated in swine.[2] It passes with apparent ease from human to human, an ability attributed to an as-yet unidentified mutation.[3] The strain in most cases causes only mild symptoms and the infected person makes a full recovery without requiring medical attention and without the use of antiviral medicines.[4]

Has the Swine Influenza (Flu) changed your travel or other plans?

Or do you believe this is all being 'over blown'?

Marc,

The flu hasn't changed my travel plans, but really messed up my work week. Started feeling "creepy" on Saturday and ended up missing a couple of days of work (Monday, Tuesday), Not sure if it was the "swine" flu, but it was probably a good imitation.

Our company president is in our Monterrey Mexico facility. It will be interesting to see if he comes back to the states tomorrow.

I really don't plan on making any big changes, but I had no travel plans myself. I do think I will be extra careful about the folks that are planning on coming here for various audits. I'll probably do what I do in the worst part of any flu season. Stay away from crowds (easy because I'm antisocial anyway), wash my hands frequently (easy because I do that anyway), and my one big change? If you sneeze or cough on me, I'll have to beat you down.:notme:

:topic:somebody here said to me yesterday: "how does a 23 month old get swine flu anyway? It's not like we should be feeding our babies that much pork anyway! What is wrong with people to be exposing babies that young to pork?:mg:

Honest to God.:rolleyes: You can't make stuff like this up. And then they wonder why people make fun of rednecks.

It changed my wife’s travel plans when she ran out of petrol.
I had to tell her the news was referring to Mexico not Texaco
:lmao:

It changed my wife’s travel plans when she ran out of petrol.
I had to tell her the news was referring to Mexico not Texaco
:lmao:

Can't believe that for a sec. Reckon you're telling porkies

<snip>Honest to God.:rolleyes: You can't make stuff like this up. And then they wonder why people make fun of rednecks.

Steel,

They're not limited to North Carolina....:lol:

Stijloor.

Hasn't affected my plans, but we've got a corporate mandate to postpone/cancel all nonessential travel to Mexico. Anyone who does travel down there (we've got a couple facilities south of the border) can't go back to work for 7 days. Sounds like a good way to get some free vacation time to me...

:topic:somebody here said to me yesterday: "how does a 23 month old get swine flu anyway? It's not like we should be feeding our babies that much pork anyway! What is wrong with people to be exposing babies that young to pork?:mg:

Honest to God.:rolleyes: You can't make stuff like this up. And then they wonder why people make fun of rednecks.

Quoted from our corporate newsletter yesterday:

Can I get swine influenza from eating or preparing pork?

No. Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food. You cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products. Eating properly handled and cooked pork products is safe.

Aside from this being the most redundant possible answer to the question, it does mean that your acquaintance is not the only one with those concerns...

Just picked this up off AP:

"Egypt began slaughtering the roughly 300,000 pigs in the country Wednesday as a precaution against swine flu even though no cases have been reported here, infuriating farmers who blocked streets and stoned vehicles of Health Ministry workers who came to carry out the government's order."

Yee Hah

Aside from this being the most redundant possible answer to the question, it does mean that your acquaintance is not the only one with those concerns...

That's verbatim from the CDC Swine Influenza and You FAQ (http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm?s_cid=tw_epr_80).

That's verbatim from the CDC Swine Influenza and You FAQ (http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/swineflu_you.htm?s_cid=tw_epr_80).

Hah - fantastic. I had no idea.

Incidentally, I do not rescind my redundancy comment.

:topic:somebody here said to me yesterday: "how does a 23 month old get swine flu anyway? It's not like we should be feeding our babies that much pork anyway! What is wrong with people to be exposing babies that young to pork?:mg:

Honest to God.:rolleyes: You can't make stuff like this up. And then they wonder why people make fun of rednecks.

There are rednecks everywhere you go - Jeff Foxworthy

There are rednecks everywhere you go - Jeff Foxworthy

:topic:

In case you forgot...here is the test (http://www.countryhumor.com/redneck/mightbe.htm). :lol:

Sorry...could not resist...:D

Stijloor.

I live in Mexico and would like to take this opportunity to thank all those friends in the Cove who have sent us messages expressing their concern for us, and who keep us in their prayers. We have received motivating messages from India, China, Morocco, Israel, the US, Romania and others.

I deeply appreciate that you are caring for us

The latest news I have heard is that this issue with the influenza appears to be getting into control in Mexico so I hope in the Lord that it will go away soon

With sincere appreciation and gratitude from Mexico :thanx:

Alberto Rios

Alberto, thanks for the update.

I want to let you know that the problem now is not only yours but 'Ours'. At the opposite side of the globe, we are taking actions also. It has to be an international effort to make it a success and the only difference is - you are in the front-line. Any good news from the front line is good news for everybody.

Thank you my friends!

I've got an audit next week in San Diego and Tijuana. The current plan involves myself and an auditor from Mexico auditing together at both sites. Tomorrow we'll make the decision if he'll audit only the Tijuana site while I audit only the San Diego site. The flu is only part of the issue - drug cartel violence is the other concern.

:topic:somebody here said to me yesterday: "how does a 23 month old get swine flu anyway? It's not like we should be feeding our babies that much pork anyway! What is wrong with people to be exposing babies that young to pork?:mg:

Honest to God.:rolleyes: You can't make stuff like this up. And then they wonder why people make fun of rednecks.

Is this how?

Hi Howste,

You should be fine. On this side of the border (in Juarez) the violence resulting from the war between the cartels has been worst than in Tijuana, and thank God here we are working, traveling country wide, doing audits, providing training, etc, etc,... Live has to continue. That does not mean one should not be careful, it is important not to go out late to risk places like cantinas and get exposed, but that I guess is always a good recomendation.

The auditor who lives in Tijuana was suggesting that maybe we change. Of course it would also eliminate waiting in long lines to cross the border...

Here's some food for thought, also confirming what I suspected all along:

CDC: Now fewer US swine flu cases linked to Mexico

By MIKE STOBBE – 35 minutes ago

ATLANTA (AP) — A U.S. health official says now only about 10 percent of the Americans who got swine flu had traveled to Mexico and likely picked up the infection there. Most got the bug at home.

That's a change from over the weekend when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said about a third of the U.S. cases at that point were people who had been to Mexico, where the outbreak began.

The CDC's acting chief, Dr. Richard Besser, said Thursday that there are now nearly 900 confirmed cases. He says the ongoing spread within the U.S. borders explains why a shrinking proportion of cases are people who traveled to Mexico.

The ages of those who got swine flu now range from 1 month to 87.

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gD1ZJvhHO6wfvF42FQf6V4E9eISgD981I7AO1

I went to Tijuana on Tuesday after all. Everything was fine. *cough cough* (just kidding) :notme:

Hi Howste, I am glad you were able to make your trip safely and thank you for your visit. If you ever visit Juarez let me know, we are here to help.

BTW, several controls have been implemented to address both of the issues of concern: safety and health, and I think we are making good progress.

God bless!

I was unfortunate enough to have travelled in early March to Mexico (Mexico City) 2 weeks before the announcement of the major outbreak. I was performing several audits at multiple supplier locations, so had contact with many people.

On my return home I came down with the flu pretty bad. I went to the doctor and received prescription medicine. Since the Swine Flu had not yet made the news, we never thought to test for it. I can tell you though, it was probably the worst flu I had in my life! I was out of work for a full week.

So, we firmly believe that I was the first "unconfirmed" case of the Swine Flu in NC.

Oddly enough, it has not curtailed my travel plans at all. I just get a dozen e-mail warnings from our travel office before I go on each trip.