Swine Flu - what does that mean for Disney?

[Nini5055]

I heard a report where there is a farm that has been taken over by the pigs. The pigs claim that they will never walk on their hind legs, but I'm not sure I believe them.

A major theme park is set to acquire said pig farm and develope the theme further.

I'm thinking...Pig World!!!!!!

[pixiesmimi]

So is Sneezy allowed out in the Parks for Character meets because of the Swine Flu?

That's a good one!

[Strmchsr]

Ya know, with all the swine flu panic out there I have been amazed while down here at WDW this week how little I've heard of it. I haven't seen people wearing masks or using a lot of sanitizer or acting any other way different from normal. The only acknowledgment of it was a letter in my room at Pop telling me that if I show flu symptoms go to the doctor and stay away from other people.

[FamilyBand1]

They just roped off Mexico at EPCOT!





(not really)

[PiratesCove]

As of today, 5/11/09 the CDC has the count of "Swine Flu" cases at 2600 with 3 deaths.


Now, my question to everyone is...Are you truly worried? Will you cancel your trip or will you go to WDW and take precautions?


I have mixed emotions!

We are on a three week count down for our trip...

cdc.gov/h1n1flu

[PeterJ911]

We were at WDW March 29-April 3. Two days after we got home I got really sick and was in bed for two days with symptoms that were very similar to what they've been describing for H1N1. This was just before the "main outbreak," and when I went to the doctor he diagnosed bronchitis, but even did an xray to rule out pneumonia. I'm thinking that I may have had an early case of H1N1 that I picked up at WDW that simply wasn't recognized yet. I'm fine now, BTW.

[Donald A]

The way I look at it is I can get the flu anytime I go to Disney. The current flu vaccine doesn't protect against all the strains even before "swine flu." This is media induced fear. I am just waiting for there to be a report of a carrier of MRSA at WDW (because there probably are several hundred every day). Though not an infectious disease specialist, I am a physician and really not worried about this right now. The only way I would really worry is if everyone had it. If you are sick it is not really good to go expose other people to it, "swine flu" or not.

[Donald A]

From what I understand, it is a flu combination of avian (bird), swine (pig) and human viruses. Apparently, it combined together at some point and it was believed to "jump" or transfer from swine to humans. Given that it is a combination strain of flu and new to humans, it leaves our healthcare to deal with the "unknown factor". It is not that it is any stronger than any other virus...just that it is a "New" virus that humans have little or no immunity to.

It is still unclear why it was so much more deadly in Mexico than in other countries. However, it would be my guess that the healthcare standard is lower than that of "richer" countries. Not to mention that healthcare is difficult to obtain and many were flat out turned away from medical care in Mexico. In the defense of Mexico...they lack funds and medical technology necessary to effectively deal with such a "new" virus. With regards to the child in Texas who died, the child was Mexican and was visiting relatives in the US...and the child also had underlying medical issues unrelated to the flu virus. As far as deaths related to the Swine Flu...put it in perspective by knowing that Influenza kills approx. 35,000 people in the US every year.

If it were such a highly deadly virus, we would be informed by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) to do more than "wash hands throughly", "use alcohol based hand sanitizer", "stay home when sick", "stay away from others who are sick".

It is a virus...plain and simple. Given the statistics of the usual strain of Influenza (given above), this strain seems no more deadly. The only difference is that the media doesn't report every flu season about the possible cases that crop up in each state and county or city within that state. Can you imagine what the media's maps and reports would be like then!?!?!?

To me...much of the hype and hysteria is caused by the media. It seems like it is turning into some weird kind of witch hunt and it is very easy to get swept away in all their hype.

Very well said, those are my thoughts exactly.

[dmosher]

The normal flu is far more of a worry and kills more people every year that the Swine Flu has. In fact drowning causes more death than ANY flu, but believe me I will still be hitting the wave pool at Typhoon Lagoon. Worrying about this will not help anyone. Though it is a serious thing that is happening, the media is blowing much further out of proportion that is should be... as usual.

D