H1N1 ~ Swine Flu and You

[SamplerDoc]

Swine Flu is very wide spread in Pattaya with cases being reported at rising rates.

Some BMs may have had fevers or the flu. The questions are:
How do you know if it was/is H1N1 vs some other type of flu or fever etc?
Does the fact that you did indeed have the swine flu, mean you are now immune?
Are you taking safety measures after the fact or did you prior to being sick?

[mardhi]

Sounds like another great time to have a home alone mystery party to me

Nobody comes - no chance of infection.

Problem solved (and cheaper drinks bill )

Cheers
Mardhi

[manarak]

Hi Sampler

Sorry if I passed it to you :-/
I believe I really had the swine flu.
I was quite quick to take antibiotics, but they didn't help, so my infection was certainly viral.
(it is unclear to me if july is for Thailand a common time for flu propagation?)

To answer your questions:

- There is no other way to tell the swine flu from another flu than to make a lab test.
A common misconception is that if you got problems breathing, it is H1N1.
Breathing problems are just a signal that you should visit a doctor ASAP.

- Yes, if you already had the swine flu, you will be immune against the same strain of the virus, and partially immune against new, mutated strains.

- The current strains of H1N1 are not more serious than the standard flu, so from my point of view if you didn't think about protecting yourself from the normal flu, taking extra precautions against H1N1 doesn't make sense.
Quite the contrary, in fact: the current strains are more or less harmless, and anyone that is correctly hydrated and nourished should recover. If one has breathing problems or if the temperature remains high for more than 48 hours, one should go see a doctor ASAP.
If you get infected with the current strain, you not only have immunity against it, but also possibly against future mutations that could potentially have a higher lethality.

Precautions:
So, no, I didn't take any precautions, doesn't make sense, especially with our kind of hobby.
The only possible protection would be to stay away from other people.
If you just need to wander around town, you need a mask - but not those medical/surgeon masks! Surgeon masks are designed to protect the patient operated by the surgeon, and does not protect the surgeon well, quite the opposite: if the virus gets on the mask, the moist and warm mask will allow it to grow!
Those masks only protect the others if you are already infected.
To protect yourself, you need a respiratory mask such as this one:
http://www.made-in-china.com/image....N1-.jpg
And while you are at it, you should also wear goggles, to seal the eyes, since a droplet into the eye can contaminate you with the virus.
Avoid to touch surfaces touched by other people, etc...

Protective measures are so heavy, that they become pretty pointless.
I would believe all bargirls and LBs who don't already have some kind of immunity will catch it real fast now.
And there is no way for the customers to avoid catching it.


Plus, I am quite happy I got it now (if that was indeed H1N1), because I wouldn't like to take the risk of traveling with high core temperature. I could be stopped somewhere and that would be the moment where the shit really hits the fan.

I can now confirm I have fully recovered (except for some residual coughing).

What I did is:
- bought 10 capsules of Amoxicillin 500 (1 morning, 1 evening) to avoid secondary bacteria infection (you don't wanna have H1N1 together with pneumonia, that's a ticket for the cemetery or 3 weeks bedtime).
- bought expectorant, which liquefies slime and helps to "eject" it. Use it at will.
Whenever you feel something in your bronches or lungs, cough it out.
- bought capsules of codein, which stops the production of slime, which is useful during the night, take before sleep
- my temperature rose very high, I used paracetamol to control it. I think it went near 41°C, and it took as much as 3000mg to lower it.
- don't forget to drink much water, coke, tea, etc. and eat.
- plenty of sleep

[tim1212]

swine fevers not taken hold quite yet..........dont worry its a little bit worst than flu?????? post starter - get out more!!!! or turn your tv off

[rxpharm]

The regular influenza has killed more people than H1N1 - that being said if H1N1 mutates into a more virulent strain it could well be very dangerous. Currently the best precautions include good hygiene - meaning proper and frequent hand washing and keeping your distance from people who are coughing or sneezing. If you have to cough or sneeze, it is best to do it into your elbow or down to the ground to limit the aerosol spread of droplets that could potentialy infect someone if you have the flu.

[SamplerDoc]

So once you get that flu same as any other flu, never immune.

The big Scare is flying thru a country that would lock you in a hotel for a week

Thanks for the good Info RX and Man

[harley quinn]

In our office building they have installed dispensers of alcohol based hand wash

Its OK with ice and a slice

[Lefty]

(manarak @ Jul. 20 2009,04:19) What I did is:
- bought 10 capsules of Amoxicillin 500 (1 morning, 1 evening) to avoid secondary bacteria infection (you don't wanna have H1N1 together with pneumonia, that's a ticket for the cemetery or 3 weeks bedtime).
- bought expectorant, which liquefies slime and helps to "eject" it. Use it at will.
Whenever you feel something in your bronches or lungs, cough it out.
- bought capsules of codein, which stops the production of slime, which is useful during the night, take before sleep
- my temperature rose very high, I used paracetamol to control it. I think it went near 41°C, and it took as much as 3000mg to lower it.
- don't forget to drink much water, coke, tea, etc. and eat.
- plenty of sleep

I'd think cigarette smokers are more prone to a secondary infection like pneumonia, since their lungs are already ravaged by years of abuse.

[Tomcat]

(manarak @ Jul. 20 2009,04:19) Surgeon masks are designed to protect the patient operated by the surgeon, and does not protect the surgeon well, quite the opposite: if the virus gets on the mask, the moist and warm mask will allow it to grow!

A good point and i wonder how many of the local mask makers have any clue about the microscopic issues involved. i was on the BTS just now and half the clowns seem to wearing home made gizmos made out of old hankerchief and knicker elastic.

Actually you probably be better off ripping some whores knickers off and pulling them over your head

IMO it will get a lot worse around September.. maybe one of those Doom Vault lab suits for a walk around Nana

[Guest]

why will it get worse in september ?

steviep

[Lefty]

I don't believe it will. It is not as severe in it's symptoms as regular flu and IMO if you get it and have a reasonably functional immune system that has not been abused by years of immunosuppressive behavior, such as extensive use of recreational drugs and tobacco, and/or been a regular drunkard, then you should survive it with little suffering. I think this entire swine flu panic amounts to basically a knee jerk reaction. Regular flu kills more people and a higher pct of people that contract it, than swine flu does.

[jimslim]

Good advice , not to be sneezed at .

[Road Runner]

(jimslim @ Jul. 25 2009,15:52)
Good advice , not to be sneezed at .

- thed old ones are the best!


I can't help but think that the press must be lacking a decent disaster story to print at the moment.

Anyone planning on setting a weapon of mass destruction off anywhere so I can read something other than one person has died from flu somewhere in the world today?

Hey - I'm sure another 30,000 must have been mown down by cars in the last 24 hours.
Or perhaps the odd 10-20,000 from malnutrition.........

Just finished my coffee and I'm going to put my lead suit back on now......

RR.

[marshal]

Started a topic not realising this was already about so apologies! I'm being treated at present for swine flue although not confirmed as

[Tomcat]

(Lefty @ Jul. 25 2009,18:26) Regular flu kills more people and a higher pct of people that contract it, than swine flu does.

The problem is that the seaonal vaccine is useless as they found out in Chile where 98 per cent of flu cases are H1N1 as is the case in many countries. Already it seems that the drug Tamiflu is proving in many cases to be useless and probably due to the low dose version being given has caused resistance. And if a successfull vaccine arrives it will be to late anyway.

Shit may hit the fan when the Northern hemisphere flu season arrives when it is more likely to mutate into something very nasty that we have no defence against. In Shanghai they already found a one off nasty mutation which hasnt spread thankfully. Its a throw of the dice but not like a thousand to one..

The Govts are in a no win situation. Can you imagine if the lid was kept on it and then it goes on to kill 50 million or more.  I suppose that with a population destined for 9 Billion it dont matter anyway if the odd 50 mill kick the bucket.