Should I be worried about swine flu during my summer placement in the UK?

[AhmedEzz]

Dear Pfers, I got a summer placement in a prestigious UK University (in East Midlands). It is a great opportunity. However, my parents and I are worried since the number of UK swine flu cases are rising sharply. I can get it on my way to the university or by just staying there (my stay is 2 months approximately). Moreover, if the virus mutates, it can pose a great problem.
I need to make a decision soon...??

 

[CRGreathouse]

The A/H1N1 virus is *not* a concern. So far it has shown itself to be slightly less dangerous than than the typical seasonal flu. It's all overblown hype.

I wouldn't advise doing anything different on its account. You are far more likely to be killed in traffic than by this virus.

 

[dyosa]

you could also opt for preventive measures: washing hands every now and then, sanitizing, boosting your immune system by eating a balanced diet and take in vitamin c.you'd be well.

 

[drizzle]

... You are far more likely to be killed in traffic than by this virus.

hear that AhmedEzz, have a nice trip

 

[AhmedEzz]

Thanks all for the advice. Indeed it is comforting and relieving. The media here is making an unbelievable hype and speculation over the disease.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Btw, congratulations AhmedEzz!

 

[Count Iblis]

Dear Pfers, I got a summer placement in a prestigious UK University (in East Midlands). It is a great opportunity. However, my parents and I are worried since the number of UK swine flu cases are rising sharply. I can get it on my way to the university or by just staying there (my stay is 2 months approximately). Moreover, if the virus mutates, it can pose a great problem.
I need to make a decision soon...??

The virus is going to spread over the whole world anyway. You may be better off getting the virus in Britain than in some other country...

 

[AhmedEzz]

In case I (or any non-EU national) got the virus, do you think I will receive the same treatment as other English patients?

 

[AhmedEzz]

Btw, congratulations AhmedEzz!

Thank you very much mate, in case everything goes well, the work I'm going to do can be published. My professors said that publishing a paper, no matter how small, at the undergrad. level, can be a good bonus to my career (I want to continue in research and academia).

 

[cristo]

In case I (or any non-EU national) got the virus, do you think I will receive the same treatment as other English patients?

Will you be classed as a student, or as an employee? (which visa are you holding?). I'm not sure that it matters: you should be entitled to NHS treatment while over here.

 

[AhmedEzz]

Will you be classed as a student, or as an employee? (which visa are you holding?). I'm not sure that it matters: you should be entitled to NHS treatment while over here.

Visiting student, which is the same as student visa but deprives me from working or staying for more than 6 months.

Anyway, I wanted to know how much are you worried about the swine flu? Do you continue with you normal lives and just take precaution? If so, then how is the number of cases rising? I'm sure the new patients were taking precautions as well !

 

[cristo]

Visiting student, which is the same as student visa but deprives me from working or staying for more than 6 months.

On second thoughts, you should probably check about healthcare: I think free NHS treatment actually only applies to students on a course of 6 months or longer.

Anyway, I wanted to know how much are you worried about the swine flu? Do you continue with you normal lives and just take precaution? If so, then how is the number of cases rising? I'm sure the new patients were taking precautions as well !

I'm not more worried about swine flu than I am about other types of flu. I also don't take any more precautions than normal (I always washed my hands before eating, and threw tissues away after use!).

There's no way you can stop this spreading totally, aside from cutting yourself off from the rest of the population. If I were you, I wouldn't worry.

 

[Count Iblis]

Anyway, I wanted to know how much are you worried about the swine flu? Do you continue with you normal lives and just take precaution? If so, then how is the number of cases rising? I'm sure the new patients were taking precautions as well !

The worries are about the near future: In Fall or Winter, Swine flu could explode. What you should check is if your health insurance has coverage. I think that if you come to the UK or any other country in Europe, you won't even be allowed in if you don't have health insurance.

There are two possible things that can happen for which you need insurance:


a) You are ill in Britain and you need the insurance to pay for treatment in Britain.

b) You are ill in Britain around the time that you were supposed to get back. You may not need any treatment, but you will now miss your flight back home. You need the insurance to pay for a new flight ticket back home.

 

[CRGreathouse]

Anyway, I wanted to know how much are you worried about the swine flu?

Less worried about the swine flu than about installing the ventilation fan I hope to buy. (I'm more likely to die falling off the roof while installing it than by getting the swine flu.)

Do you continue with you normal lives and just take precaution?

Honestly, I'm not even taking special precautions. I'll probably get the vaccine when it comes out, but then I usually get every flu vaccine.

http://graphjam.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/song-chart-memes-out-proportion.jpg​

[/URL]

If so, then how is the number of cases rising? I'm sure the new patients were taking precautions as well !

The number of cases are tailing off in countries that were hit early on, like Mexico and the US. The number of cases are rising where it's newer.

 

[AhmedEzz]

Today, in the news, I just read that the first batch of vaccine is produced.

 

[Tess]

Less worried about the swine flu than about installing the ventilation fan I hope to buy. (I'm more likely to die falling off the roof while installing it than by getting the swine flu.)



Honestly, I'm not even taking special precautions. I'll probably get the vaccine when it comes out, but then I usually get every flu vaccine.

http://graphjam.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/song-chart-memes-out-proportion.jpg​

[/URL]



The number of cases are tailing off in countries that were hit early on, like Mexico and the US. The number of cases are rising where it's newer.

_____________________________________________________________
Coulnd't disagree more. Last night Utah's Dept. of Health went out on a limb and let
everybody know that the CDC REALLY THINKS this is a Category 2 pandemic. for now.
This is much worse that 'regular flu.' Why do you think health departments have stopped counting? If you have symptoms, you are told to stay home. Don't expect tamiflu (for as long as it lasts).
A category 2 pandemic has the following:
- Case fatality ratio of 0.1 percent to less than 0.5 percent.
- Between 90,000 and 450,000 deaths in the U.S. (based on 2006 U.S. population)
- Excess death rate of between 30 to less than 150 per 100,000 people
- Illness rate of between 20 and 40 percent.
- Similar to 1957 pandemic."

Health depts. around the country are no longer even testing or counting H1N1 and reports out today that at least a million in America have probably been infected with this virus to which we have no vaccine. yet. When we do, let's hope healthcare and police get it. Do your DD.
http://files.aatb.org/webfiles/bulletinfiles/keypoints_CDC_6_11_2009.pdf

 

[AhmedEzz]

AFAIK, approximately 3,000 people needed to enter the hospital for treatment. Thus if the US had 1,000,000 cases, I think this means that they virus is neither fatal nor disturbing.

I'm curious to know how and how long it took for those who are recovered from the flu?

 

[Count Iblis]

AFAIK, approximately 3,000 people needed to enter the hospital for treatment. Thus if the US had 1,000,000 cases, I think this means that they virus is neither fatal nor disturbing.

I'm curious to know how and how long it took for those who are recovered from the flu?

I think it takes about ten days to recover. But I think this is flu is extremely dangerous especially if you are between 20 and 50 years old. Because in ordinary flu epidemics many more people are infected and almost no one in the age range from 20 to 50, even those with underlying diseases, die from flu. Almost all deaths from ordinary flu are people who are very old and very frail who would probably have died anyway within a few year's time.

In this case a substantial fraction of the deaths are in the 20-50 age range and about 30% or half of these death were healthy people. And then this is despite the fact that in this Swine flu case people are getting far more treatment than in case of ordinary flu. In ordinary flu epidemics people don't routinely take tamiflu and a very high fever does not automatically land you in hospital in the intensive care unit.

 

[gravenewworld]

The A/H1N1 virus is *not* a concern. So far it has shown itself to be slightly less dangerous than than the typical seasonal flu. It's all overblown hype.

I wouldn't advise doing anything different on its account. You are far more likely to be killed in traffic than by this virus.

That's not necessarily true. Swine flu has shown an incredible ability to infect, the only missing piece is mortality. Swine flu has been declared to be a pandemic by WHO. The 1918 influenza started out in a similar fashion. Swine flu could become incredibly dangerous this fall/winter if it mutates and becomes more virulent. Influenza is one of the fastest mutating viruses on the planet. Only time will tell what will become of swine flu.

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol12no01/05-0979.htm

Although in 1918 influenza was not a nationally reportable disease and diagnostic criteria for influenza and pneumonia were vague, death rates from influenza and pneumonia in the United States had risen sharply in 1915 and 1916 because of a major respiratory disease epidemic beginning in December 1915 (22). Death rates then dipped slightly in 1917. The first pandemic influenza wave appeared in the spring of 1918, followed in rapid succession by much more fatal second and third waves in the fall and winter of 1918-1919, respectively (Figure 1)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/11/health/23webflu.html?_r=1

All three reported deaths in the United States to this point have involved victims with health problems, as has the single fatal case in Canada. More than 100 people have been hospitalized because of the virus in the United States. But most of the victims in Mexico, the center of the outbreak where 48 people with swine flu have died, have been adults aged 20 to 49 with no known complicating factors.

Now does this say something about the flu or Mexico's health care? It's not really clear, but if the deaths in Mexico of those aged 20-49 are because of the virus, but it is a worrying trend if it is killing normally healthy people in their 20s.

 

[wildman]

I got the Swine Flu and so did my whole family. It was unpleasant but no big deal. We were sick for about a week. The doctor tested us and that is what it was.

 

[boboYO]

I had a thought, would it be better to get infected now as like a vaccine for when/if it becomes deadly?

 

[AhmedEzz]

Do you still think its safe and OK to travel to the UK and stay there?

 

[Count Iblis]

Do you still think its safe and OK to travel to the UK and stay there?

It is safe as long as you make sure that as soon as you get a fever you contact a doctor. In case of ordinary flu, young and healthy people never get in trouble, this case is different. In a small fraction of all cases, young and healthy people do get severe pneunomia. So, if you get the flu and you are feeling very bad, you can't just assume that you'll just recover on your own:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/essex/8145389.stm

 

[cristo]

Do you still think its safe and OK to travel to the UK and stay there?

Yes, absolutely it is safe.

 

[AhmedEzz]

Yes, absolutely it is safe.

Only a sith deals in absolutes!

How about Andy Burham's statement that by the end of August, UK is going to have approximately 100,000 new cases / day ?!

 

[cristo]

How about Andy Burham's statement that by the end of August, UK is going to have approximately 100,000 new cases / day ?!

By the end of August, the UK will also (most probably) have a vaccine.

Look, you can either listen to the scaremongering in the media, or you can listen to the chief medical officer, and the doctors: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8145674.stm. I know who I'm going to listen to, but if you deem there to be too much risk, then don't come over. You don't have to, after all!

 

[AhmedEzz]

By the end of August, the UK will also (most probably) have a vaccine.
...if you deem there to be too much risk, then don't come over. You don't have to, after all!

Yes, but I want to. The UK is such a nice place and Brits are very nice people. I hope the vaccine will be available soon.

 

[JaredJames]

Well I spent an hour in work last week having what I'm supposed to be doing explained to me by another student who went off with swine flu the next day. I'm fine.
The only people dying are said to have underlying health problems.
It is nothing worse than regular flu. Whether you have swine flu or normal flu they take the same quarantine precautions of telling you not to leave your house except to see the doctor.
Don't know what everyone is worrying about. I live here and it has had no effect on me or any of the people around me we are just carrying on as normal. Just get on with your life. Make your own decision, you seem set on it and just want people here to agree you should.

 

[Count Iblis]

The only people dying are said to have underlying health problems. It is nothing worse than regular flu

That's false:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/essex/8145389.stm

It is far worse than ordinary flu. In case of ordinary flu, if you are young and healthy, you can get a high fever, feel miserable, but nothing serious will happen. If you have an underlying health problem, you may end up in hospital, but it is still extremely rare for people under 50 to die from ordinary flu.

The mistake would be to consider Swine flu to be the same as ordinary flu, so when you get a very high fever and feel miserable, you say: "Oh, this is similar to the flu I got 4 years ago, no need to call a doctor". The reason why less people are dying in the US and in Britain compared to Mexico was likely due to te fact that when Swine flu hit Mexico, it was not known that it was more dangerous, so when people got ill they treated it exactly like ordinary flu. Only later did they see that people had to go to the hospital far sooner and take tamiflu than in case of ordinary flu.

Thing is though that most people who get swine flu only get very mld symptoms. Only a small fraction will get severe symptoms.

 

[Count Iblis]

I've read that the vaccine won't be available before October in large numbers. In August they'll have small amounts of vaccine that will be used to vaccinate primary health care workers.