Caer Abred

Anyone you know, or any friends of friends, even third cousins twice removed, have they been suffering from Swine Flu recently? [so I can avoid going to that part of the country]

I have to admit I am worried. My wife is preggers, I've got a child under 5 and I'm not sure whether I might be classed as having an 'underlying health condition' . But i reckon we are high risk.

(have you noticed in the news of late, by implication in tv news reports that if someone dies of the flu but they were unhealthy anyway there is almost the attitude of 'tacit relief but if the victims were originally healthy then thats really awful and worrying?

So....
What can we do to help try to prevent ourselves getting the flu? Surely it would help if we avoided big gatherings of people where possible? What about washing our hands regularly? What about avoiding touching door knobs where possible or handling any objects that many other people have used (e.g. coins, key pads on those debit card readers)?

Such is my growing paranoia that I will soon have a hygeine OCD and also be trading only by bartering with those wearing full biohazard kit.

Has anyone else modified their behaviour?

I recently taught a child who has now been hospitaised with Swine-Flu.

I am assuming, quite seriously, that I will develop the symptoms as soon as the Summer Holiday starts, as the teacher-illness holiday connection is defintitely not mere superstition.

There are a lot of "tips" flying around as to what to do to prevent catching it and I would say that anyone who is concerned should get NHS Direct advice straight away:

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Pandemic-flu/Pages/QA.aspx

Well, Muppet's got it, bless. We're kinda hoping she's over the worst now .... but Bristol's obviously off limits WH.

And we're both in category 1 .... but I haven't got the flu 'cos I was naughty and grounded so didn't come into contact with it during the infectious stage.

Ah providence

And just to illustrate how truth is the first casualty of a pandemic, the kid who was "hospitalised" with it turned up today not even having had it.

Someone else at the school does have it though.

Mr Nin has always been a bit prone to various sniffles since he had glandular fever a few years back, so am dosing him up with Kelp and greens - taking kelp myself to bolster the immune system, and, of course vitamin C (don't you just love the fizzy orange ones?).

Like WH I am getting a bit fussy about touching door knobs etc in public areas, so keep a small bottle of anti bacterial gel in my bag.

I haven't got the full biohazard kit as yet, but may go and have a look on ebay - just in case.

Nin

Yes WH I have swine flu and asthma. The worst part is actually the isolation. I live alone with cats - 5 days without human contact is not conducive to mental health.
I may have to start watching daytime TV soon.

Poor Muppet - how long until they let you out?

Nin

There's a suspicious number of teaching staff that have started their summer holidays early, or should that read 'phoned in with flu like symptoms' over the last few days. Today, after having been at a festival all weekend and out late last night, one nervous person asked me if I'm feeling ok as apparently I look a bit tired. Looks a bit tired = swine flu as far as they're concerned.

We have our dreadful, two hour long, end of term church service on Friday (zzzzzzzz! with knobs on) and I can feel myself 'phoning in with flu like symptoms' already.

I think the term should be ended early anyway. What's the point in keeping so many kids together in this situatiin when they could be more isolated?