Would you still travel this summer given the Swine flu Pandemic
Jun 12th, 2009, 01:03 AM
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Would you still travel this summer given the Swine flu Pandemic
Traveling to Prague in August with my mom, people are urging me to reconsider because of the flu pandemic. Any thoughts?
Jun 12th, 2009, 01:05 AM
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Well I live in Europe and I am traveling all summer hahahaha!
The swine flu is contagious but apparently quite mild. You likely have the same chance of catching it at home as you do over here as its spread all over the world.
Take some precautions - bring hand sanitizer, wash your hands often etc and you should be fine.
Maybe bring along the name and address of english speaking clinics if you are concerned.
The swine flu is contagious but apparently quite mild. You likely have the same chance of catching it at home as you do over here as its spread all over the world.
Take some precautions - bring hand sanitizer, wash your hands often etc and you should be fine.
Maybe bring along the name and address of english speaking clinics if you are concerned.
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Jun 12th, 2009, 03:25 AM
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The Hot spots seems to be north America,UK and Australia at the moment,so if you are travelling from any of these places you may wish to think about the possibility that you may be spreading the virus.I would not worry about travelling,on my recent flight to and from Prague we were warned about taking sensible health precautions,but no mention of swine flu was made.
Wash your hands as often as possible ,seeze into a tissues and dispose of it in bins,and wash hands as often as possible.
oh and wash hands as often as possible are the sensible precautions,and of course washing hands as often as possible.
Wash your hands as often as possible ,seeze into a tissues and dispose of it in bins,and wash hands as often as possible.
oh and wash hands as often as possible are the sensible precautions,and of course washing hands as often as possible.
Jun 12th, 2009, 03:25 AM
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1. The swine flu has nothing to do with swines. It is a human disease.
2. The swine flu has originated in the USA and has been brought to Europe (as well as other parts of the world) by travellers from the USA.
3. The swine flu is a very mild form of flu. You will be bedridden for one or two days, that's all. And that can happen anytime, anywhere.
4. The swine flu is spreading very slowly, and in Europe, not more than a handful of people have got it so far.
5. Conclusion: Just forget it. Travel whereever you want. But keep care not to catch hepatitis (by far the most dangerous infectious disease in Eastern Europe, especially if you intend to visit a brothel).
2. The swine flu has originated in the USA and has been brought to Europe (as well as other parts of the world) by travellers from the USA.
3. The swine flu is a very mild form of flu. You will be bedridden for one or two days, that's all. And that can happen anytime, anywhere.
4. The swine flu is spreading very slowly, and in Europe, not more than a handful of people have got it so far.
5. Conclusion: Just forget it. Travel whereever you want. But keep care not to catch hepatitis (by far the most dangerous infectious disease in Eastern Europe, especially if you intend to visit a brothel).
Jun 12th, 2009, 04:49 AM
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We have had a number of cases in Germany recently - about all of which are travellers who have brought it in from the USA. Americans don't have to worry about coming to Europe and catching the virus here. It's us who have to worry about people coming in from America.
Just a thought from the other side of the pond.
Just a thought from the other side of the pond.
Jun 12th, 2009, 05:24 AM
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I wouldn't worry about it. Despite the fancy name, I'm not clear this is that big of a deal. Bear in mind that roughly 36k people die in the US every year from the flu or complications from the flu. I'm not going to get overly worked up about a few hundred deaths from the swine flu.
There is some concern about this flu because some of the deaths in Mexico occurred among younger people, who usually recover from the regular flu. Still, given the small number of total deaths, much of the concern does seem a bit overdone.
One other factor in your favor is that August is not typical flu season, so you should expect to see a lull during the summer.
About the only place I would perhaps reconsider my plans would be China. And I say this not because I would be worried about my safety, but because I would be concerned about basically being imprisoned due to the ridiculously exaggerated responses they have taken.
There is some concern about this flu because some of the deaths in Mexico occurred among younger people, who usually recover from the regular flu. Still, given the small number of total deaths, much of the concern does seem a bit overdone.
One other factor in your favor is that August is not typical flu season, so you should expect to see a lull during the summer.
About the only place I would perhaps reconsider my plans would be China. And I say this not because I would be worried about my safety, but because I would be concerned about basically being imprisoned due to the ridiculously exaggerated responses they have taken.
Jun 12th, 2009, 05:41 AM
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One of the original outbreaks was at my kids school. The school was not closed, and while a few kids got sick (very mild symptoms), the vast majority did not. Those that did had to stay home for a week.
I am going to Europe next week.
I am going to Europe next week.
Jun 12th, 2009, 07:38 AM
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1959, you should know better. This flu strain started in Mexico, not the US. This is why the vast majority of confirmed cases are in MEXICO and US border states.
And the notion that this is a worldwide health issue is preposterous. About 500k people worldwide die from influenza complications each year and you're worried about 150 deaths from a different strain, 85% of which were in the southern part of North America?
And the notion that this is a worldwide health issue is preposterous. About 500k people worldwide die from influenza complications each year and you're worried about 150 deaths from a different strain, 85% of which were in the southern part of North America?
Jun 12th, 2009, 07:53 AM
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I do not know whether I know better. But it seems that the first cases of Swine Flu had occurred in Southern California:
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5815a5.htm
BTW, most influenza pandemics of the 20th century have originated in the USA. This does not imply any responsibility of American people or government. It is just a fact.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5815a5.htm
BTW, most influenza pandemics of the 20th century have originated in the USA. This does not imply any responsibility of American people or government. It is just a fact.
Jun 12th, 2009, 09:03 AM
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The people who are urging you not to go sound like the same people who never travel outside the US because they're afraid people won't speak English to them or their plane will crash or the bathrooms will be dirty or they won't like the strange food. Fear of Swine Flu seems about as valid as far as excuses go.
Jun 12th, 2009, 01:25 PM
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First of all, I don't come from the US. Secondly, I am not joking. I live in the UAE and we have had one confirmed case of a guy coming from Canada. The concern of people here arose because there is talk over the net that some countries are considering closing their borders. What I was worried about is that Prague is going to probably be filled with tourists coming from the infected areas. Anyway, thanks for all the replies that confirmed my opinion to just go.
Jun 12th, 2009, 03:08 PM
#19
<<What I was worried about is that Prague is going to probably be filled with tourists coming from the infected areas.>>
what Prague is mostly filled with is czechs. the no of tourists from the US and Mexico will be relatively small. you are more likely to be run over by a tram.
regards, ann
what Prague is mostly filled with is czechs. the no of tourists from the US and Mexico will be relatively small. you are more likely to be run over by a tram.
regards, ann
Jun 12th, 2009, 07:31 PM
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We just returned from a month in Europe (Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia) and didn't hear the words "swine flu" mentioned(in any language.) It seemed to be a non-issue. We left home with antibiotics, TamiFlu, surgical masks and alcohol hand sanitizer. The hand sanitizer was all we ever used -- frequently. We're returning to Europe in August, taking just the normal precautions we always have.
