The Virginian-Pilot
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Responding to a high public interest in swine flu, the state’s health department will open a call center today for Virginians to telephone with questions about the new virus.
The number – 1-877-ASK-VDH3 – will be staffed from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. today and Friday. Some questions will be answered immediately by health department staff, and others will be recorded to be answered in return calls.
On Friday, health officials will evaluate whether there’s a need to continue the call center next week.
During a Wednesday press briefing, state health officials said Virginia still does not have any confirmed cases of swine flu. Specimens continue to be sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for testing, but state labs expect to receive kits later this week to do the same testing here.
Officials also announced that the state today received its first round of antiviral medications that the CDC began releasing in response to the outbreaks of swine flu across the globe.
The state received about half of the 280,000 courses of medication it expects to get. That will add to a stockpile of 770,000 courses the state already had on hand.
The state also received other flu-related items, such as face masks, gowns and gloves for infection control should confirmed cases be identified.
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Coordination pays
I'm pleased to see the prompt global response, as well as responsible countermeasures in Mexico City. Even if only a scare this time, it's a good dry-run if there is ever a more serious pandemic -- found a cool site; Balkingpoints ; incredible satellite view of earth
School Closures
My daughter is a school teacher in the Dallas area. The entire Ft Worth school district is closed and several schools in my daughter's neighborhood.
While I don't advocate panic, complacency is just (if not more) dangerous.
With a highly mobile population, it's just a matter of time before it comes to VA. I think I'd rather be prepared and be taking reasonable precautions (such as frequent handwashing) up front.
Young and Healthy...
...based on what standards and what evidence the humans in question who died met those standards. There could have been malnourishment, drug use, prior disease ailments who knows what... Once again a blind lemming panic... TV said so BAH BAH BAH, news said so, bah bah bah. TV and news never present actual factual evidence of their accounts. One group who knows exactly what they are doing and what they want will get just that out of this, the government. No worries!
Cause for concern.
This flu is killing young and healthy people. That's why there is hysteria. Yes 36,000 people die every year from flu-related complications, but how many of them are young and healthy? Also this virus is unknown to us; new strain, no vaccine, no immunity. It is a cause for concern, not panic, just concern. At least for right now. I'm not saying we should lock down our houses and board up the windows and wait with a shotgun to confront anybody who walks across the yard, but this still should be taken seriously.
This flu is killing young
This flu is killing young and healthy people. That's why there is hysteria. Yes 36,000 people die every year from flu-related complications, but how many of them are young and healthy? Also this virus is unknown to us; new strain, no vaccine, no immunity. It is a cause for concern, not panic, just concern. At least for right now. I'm not saying we should lock down our houses and board up the windows and wait with a shotgun to confront anybody who walks across the yard, but this still should be taken seriously.
Confused....
I'm confused. I thought there was no cure for this flu so what is this anti-viral drug that VA is getting?
Local Schools Deserve a Failing Grade "F" for their effort...
I find it amazing that as WHO has raised the Pandemic alert to the second highest level, not a single notification has been forthcoming from the Virginia Beach school system on what symptoms to look for, urging parents to keep children exhibiting symptoms from attending classes, etc. Have the District's nursing staff buried their head in the sand? Are they aware? Perhaps they are planning to wait until the Swine Flu overwhelms our schools before they distribute any information.
Look out
My wife and I just returned from vacation in Cozumel and Chichen Itza on the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. Maybe we will be the Va hosts and infect the entire commonwealth.
Deaths
The fact that many of the deaths in Mexico have been young, healthy people is partly what is concerning. Such people normally do not die from the flu. Further, there is currently no vaccine and humans are not immune, which also adds to the hysteria, as there is nothing we can do about it. Humans like to be in control of the situation.
Re: the box comment
I'd rather rely on the "box" and other forms of media instead of rumors and/or speculation. I am a proud owner of a "box", and I get a lot of good information from it. I am glad "the box" is telling us about this situation. It needs to get out to us "Lemmings"; if you don't want to be concerned, that's fine with me. I, for one, will take the advice of "the box" in this case. I am real shocked that the usual suspects on these boards, haven't somehow placed blame on Obama yet. Wait for it...it's coming. GROAN!