What if someone has swine flu, but has developed a resistance to Tamiflu or Relenza? What should this person do?

Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington

Last night it was said on 360 that the flu would die down in the summer and then strike again in the fall. If the flu is contained now with measures like Mexico closing down for a week is that prediction still valid? If so, how large do epidemiologists predict the outbreak will be?

What if you were riding in a bus, someone sneezed on you but didn’t cover his mouth, and you had another half hour before you could get off the bus and wash yourself? Will you get his germs?

Lilibeth
Edmonds, Washington

Does getting a mild case of H1N1 flu confer immunity to it in the future?

It is my understanding a virus, being a non-living oragnism is difficult to destroy, due to its ability to mutate, as well as its ability to continue to linger and house itself. I would like to know how these schools, airports, etc. are expecting to be able to kill this non-living H1N1 virus.

I've heard that H1N1 is lab created, that this mix of Swine/Avian/Human genes wouldn't occur in nature. Can that be true?

And did the initial outbreak in Mexico correspond to President Obama's meeting in Mexico earlier this month?

Re swine flu: Should we worry that the virus can be transmitted via clothing or other surfaces?

I am 18 weeks pregnant and I am scheduled to go on a cruise next weekend. Although it is not stopping in Mexico, should I be concerned about being near so many other people for 7 days? Should I cancel my cruise because of the risk of the swine flu? Also...do pregnant women receive the same treatment for the swine flu as others?

Thanks!

What are your chances of dying from the swine flu compared to dying with normal influenza?

Should we be doing somthing else other than what is being put out there, ex washing the hands, covering your mouth when you sneeze, etc.? Is it serious or isn't it?

What can we as a family or individual do other than hand washing and staying in when sick. Should we have an emergency preparedness kit? If so, what should this contain?

Why are people from Canada and the U.S. still travelling to Mexico and running the risk of bringing back more than a tan? With all the press and travel agencies refunding trips what is the problem with these people not only putting themselves at risk, but the rest of the U.S. and Canada.....................isn't it about time there was a complete ban on non-essential travel to and from Mexico? It is only getting worse, and there are more and more cases popping up not in Canada but the U.S.

When is the health community going to close these borders, until the problem is sorted out?

Thanks

Could one reason that the flu cases in the US have been so much milder than in Mexico be because so many of us have been vaccinated multiple times against other strains of flu, perhaps affording us some measure of immunity? And some of us are even old enough to have been vaccinated against swine flu in 1976, does that offer any type of immunity now?

Does using Purell or other antibacterial hand washes really work? Have heavy users of those products already made themselves weaker?

Why isn't the media talking about the people who are getting better. They only talk about the bad, so I guess my question is – - How many people out in the world that have it, but have gotten better or is getting better?

Being that the H1N1 flu is a virus would it be at all helpful to "stock up" so to speak by taking extra Vitamin C or echinacea or drinking products like the Emergen-C supplement to help boost your immunity?

I know these things are suggested for the common cold, just curious if they are at all effective in this type of outbreak.

I've been focused on finals, but exactly how did the swine flu erupt?

The same thing now happened in 1976, and more people died from complications from the vaccines than from the flu... what is the world going to do after seeing what happened the last time?

The high school in Queens had 125 students that were ill and yet the total confirmed cases for New York State are 50. How can we get meaningful data?

Can a mosquito carry swine flu virus?

I live in Hawaii, but want to make a trip back to Calif soon,
will I be making a big mistake, or is it better I go now and
not later ?

One topic I’ve not heard addressed is whether H1N1 is communicable between animal species and then to humans. For instance, could a dog contract it at the neighbor’s pig farm and then carry it home to its owners? I realize this sounds implausible, but I am curious.

did the swine flu somewhere around pennsylvania

is it that the virus was created by humans and put in an airport where people from different countries transit without the worries of an "attack"?
why did people got sick with a virus coming from "porks" in a city?
for the magnitude of the problem, should there be cases somewhere than just Mexico City?
why don't you mention that there are some cases that are not connected to Mexico??
how is that people where coming back from cancun got the virus if there are no cases have been confimed in cancun?? they must have stopped at the airport, right??
what is the relationship between the pharmaceutical companies and the productions of sources to "cure" us from this virus since they were supposed to give money to support the economy of some countries?

can anyone answer this questions for me?

If this pandemic mimics that of 1918 when a mild virus hit in the spring and a second more virulant wave of virus returned in the fall, wouldnt it be better to be exposed to the earlier outbreak to build immunity to the more virulant strain?

Swine flu is a marketing project for two global corps Glaxo & Roche.

They happen to have good medicals for that strain.

35000 people die from flu in USA yearly.

That is about 90 a day.

Any questions

Is it passed through birds? I saw a few dead birds laying around where i jog?

Do the surgical masks really protect a person from catching the flu?

y is it that every five years or so a new germ or disease come into the public. how come medical science haven't found away to control new diseases or germs. how came medical science haven't found away to cure the old disease or germs yet. i really think that the medical field has been practicing a little to long on how to prevent diseases or germ from reoccureing. and they still haven't found cures.

I am sittng next to a sick person on a fllght from NY to Fl. Will my flu shot protect me?

The media needs to stop sensationalizing everything they cover! People die from the flu every year. The cdc said that it is so far a mild flu and they have the medicine to treat the flu. Our vice president made a stupid statement today. Lou Dobbs today was saying that the public was not panicking, thank god, while the headline on the screen said "DEADLY OUTBREAK" Wake up. I'm sending this to Anderson Cooper because he is the most responsible of all the t.v. newsmen.

my friend will be flying to Tennessee at the end of May does she need to take precautions to avoid getting the swine flu?

Isn’t this media frenzy increasing the number of “TV to HUMAN” transmissions of swine flu- thereby threatening patient safety and patient flow in busy Emergency Rooms nation wide?

What is going on with central and south America in relation to the flu? I haven't heard anything about the rest of the continent.

If schools are doing a thorough cleaning at the time of closure (due to a child being tested positive for Swine Flu) why aren't schools being proactive and doing a "wipe-down" before a child catches the Swine Flu?

Hello I want to know what can people do who think they might be getting sick but do not have medical insurance. Going to the doctor is expensive for those without insurance and they might not go because they can't afford it or they might not have the swine flu but the regular flu. I believe these are the type of people that are going to greatly spread the disease since they do not know they have it and can't afford to stay at home.

What is happening to the tourists that are still in Mexico? Are they able to just leave without a medical exam ? I work with someone whose son is still there on holidays. I am concerned.
Thank you

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stop referring to influenza A (H1N1) as "swine flu" . It is socially irresponsible to be using this term when there is already a swine flu (H3N1) and people may become confused seeing as you have never made the differentiation between the two.

I don't have a direct question however, I am getting such conflicting information. Can you tell me in laymen's terms what the real dangers are and how can we protect ourselves. People around here are starting to panic saying that if you get it you will certainly die. There is just too much information floating around. We need simple direct information.

Thank you it's a pleasure being able to read your blog.

Thanks again!
Marla Bentley

If we do get control of the swine flu, is it possible for the swine flu to be 100% gone after the last remaining person gets over it?

I am on methotrexate and humira for RA. I am already very careful about washing my hands and avoiding large gatherings. How much more should I avoid public places? Thanks.

1) Why are people being told to cover their sneeze without the clarification of turning away from people, preferably into a corner, and sneezing into a tissue, their elbow, or anything except their bare hands? Sneezing into your hands puts a high concentration of virus particles on those hands that then gets transfered to the next several elevator buttons, door handles, rails, faucets etc. that one touches.

2) How many samples can the CDC test each day, and roughly how many samples are they getting each day? What's the turnaround, and why is the Orlando case taking so long to get results on? I understand that the states are being provided the capability to test, but in these early days I'm very curious to hear and understand the numbers, suspected, probable, confirmed and all, as they happen.

Dear Dr. Gupta;

I've had the common Flu within the last 6 months, and was successfully treated for MRSA within the last couple of years, BUT the strain of MRSA I had was *extremely* resistant to many drugs and finally required a PICC line.

My questions are, does having had the Flu within the last few months weaken my immune system now, or am I at "full strength" yet? What PRECISELY constitutes a "weakened immune system" and WHY? Furthermore, is it plausible for MRSA to acquire genetic material from H1N1 and become even stronger, or vice versa, and why or why not?

As an aside, why do you think the Media (in general) failing to explain that the REASON people need to wash their hands is our natural tendencies to unconciously touch our eyes/nose/mouths, and thus hand washing stops bugs in their tracks?

Can one be a carrier of the virus, passing it on to others, without actually getting the disease themselves?

I'm in the middle Georgia area and we now have 1 confirmed case of Swine Flu here. Back around 1974 or so I remember as a little girl in Fla. that the Swine Flu was around then. I remember my 60 year old neighbor and his wife questioning if the should go get the shot. The man did but his wife did not. Hours after getting the Swine Flu shot he got sick and later died. As a matter of fact quite a few of the elderly died as a result of the shot. From what I remember the Swine Flu disappeared as fast as it came. How safe would a vaccine be and would it be made from a different batch than that of the 1970's

Since H1N1 has already been spread around the world is their any benefit of not traveling to resort towns in Mexico?

Is Mexico really reporting the accurate data on the deaths from this flu? They under-reported the deaths form the earthquake a few years back, so how can we trust their data now? Is there an outside agency verifying the reported numbers?

From the onset of symptoms, how long will the average adult be ill before recovering to normal. (asuming no treatment besides drinking fuilds and bedrest)

What is the difference between Tamiflu or Relenza and what should one do if they have medical allergies?

Could the US people have been infected with the swine flu and merely thought they had "the flu"? Most flu bugs are not "tested" for strain.

If someone gets sick with the swine flu, how long are they contagious, how long do they stay quarantined?

Can someone be a carrier of the swine flu and NOT have the illness?

Anderson

I have to fly to southern california this weekend. What are the risks of flying in a plane?

Is it true that healthy adults are as susceptible to death from the swine flu as eldery, babies, and those w/ compromised immune systems?

Is the Swine Flu effecting small children ages 2-8?

a school near my house was shut down because a girl has the swine flu and I work in the school district how worried should we be?

My daughter is traveling to Panama next week. Should we be concerned? What can she do to protect herself?

I live in Texas and I took my daughter out of school (my own decision) on Monday. I'm nervous to let her go back. The school has not been shut down, but schools only hours away have been. When should I let her go back to school? Monday is what I'm thinking, but the numbers just keep climbing and I'm worried that the day I let her go back it will break in my city. Conflicting data and not enough information has me worried. Should I keep her out until next school year?

my question is what will we learn about all this influenza the H1N1. And how would it prepare us for the future since cdc is expecting to get worse during the fall season,and my guess is that there will be other types of flu viruses in the future so shouldn't we be preparing for that as well.

I got a book in the mail yesterday from my aunt in California. She is living in an area with some H1N1 cases. Is this book safe to use and touch? Could it be infected? (By the way, I live in WV.)

If they have not been able to isolate the origins(not where), the actual components that make up this differing strain of virus how are they able to make the vaccine or have they already determined but just haven't released the information and when will they release the information if they do already have it?

I had my swine flu shot in 1976. Am I still protected?

It's my understanding that "swine flu" came into being when avian, porcine, and human virus strains underwent reassortment. Given that, what happens when the H1N1 virus reaches a country like Egypt or Indonesia, where "bird flu" (H5N1) exists? Could H1N1 and H5N1 reassort, so as to create a "super flu" as lethal as "bird flu" and as easily transmissible between humans as "swine flu"? And if so, how likely is it that such a reassortment will occur?

remember that Travel Alert back in late February, the US government doing us a favor not going to Mexico and then two months later, BAM the swine flun epidemic that started in Mexico............

Why can swine flu be fatal? How worried should one be about dying if they contract swine flu?

I have a trip to Puerto Vallarta the second week of June. Should it be safe to travel there by then?

This is getting out of hand and I think the media is leading the fear mongering parade. I want to hear real STATS on other flu epidemics, why is this different IF IT IS, so far the deaths are minimal compared to history, why the big scare!

While there are lists of symptoms that are associated with flu and possibly swine flu - does a person have to have all the symptoms tto be considered at risk for swine flu?

For example, could someone only with (1) a cough and (2) a sore throat - without other flu-like symptoms after a trip to NYC - have swine flu?

How about a person only with (1) a cough, (2) a sore throat and (3) mild diarrhea alone - without any fever or aches - be at risk for swine flu?

Are there designated testing sites for immediate testing?

If so, where?

I have the flu. I am a teacher and I have had several students (5) out within the last week plus 1 of my own children. How do I know if it is just the flu or if it's the Swine Flu?

I understand WHO's new official name for the "swine" flu is now "H1N1 Influenza A."

While WHO may want everyone to call it "H1N1 Influenza A" it is much easier for people (and the Press/Media) to keep calling it "swine flu" which doesn't remedy the misnomer that pigs are somehow spreading the disease.

If you look at the nomenclature "H1N1" it looks a lot like "HINI" ... so perhaps if we rename it "HINI" or since it is the A strain ... AHINI or HINIA or HINI-A ...it will be easier to say, remember and associate with the actual virus rather than the animal (pig) - and perhaps eliminate the unnecessary slaughters.

Just a thought ...and if Anderson and/or Dr. Gupta could get behind the idea, perhaps it might stick!

This is not only a question but a statement, since there are so many cases of the swine flu why doesn't the Government shut ALL schools down before there is a further spread of the swine flu!!!? As we all know children don't always wash their hands,cover their coughs or their sneezes. Some of them even drink from one another.So therefore this "flu" WILL be more contagious and more spread between children!!!!

Why doesn't health care officials offer at home H1N1 swab testing which could be mailed to laboratories in a safe and secure packaging material? It seems like it would be less exposure to unifected patients at the doctors' office sitting in crowded waiting rooms.

What is the relationship between large, industrial pig farms and swine flu outbreaks? Dr. Gupta, you were looking into that relationship in Mexico.

I've heard that Tamiflu vaccine is helping. How much is "stock piled" and who will be getting access to it after front line health care workers?

Can this influenza be passed onto produce being delivered to the U.S. from Mexico?

My question is can the swine flu be formed an passed around be the drug cartel retalation against the american and mexican fight against drugs?