Comments on: Weekend Flu Watch: Help us, Delta Lady!

By: nadine

nadine — Sun, 03 May 2009 18:58:00 +0000

Joe Biden was right and had every right to say what he did. He was refering to HIS FAMILY. Instead of ripping into V.P. Biden, people should listen to what he said about if your sick and sneeze on the plane because I for one am fed up with people who know darn well they have a cold (if not the flu) and go to work anyways or get on a plane filled with passengers. They can't avoid everyone but they act like they'll be careful not to cough on anyone at work or on the bus, etc and yet once they go out in public with that virus in their systems, anything the touch, like a memo, a phone, the railing on the bus, the overhead baggage compartment, etc will now have their germs on it. There are people like me who catch a cold very easily and find it offensive when co-workers come to work sick anyways. They should be quarintened like TB people are. This is how a flu becomes a pandemic, too many selfish people thinking I'll be careful but going out in public anyways. Do we need to make laws for this too.

By: MarieAnne Sam - Alabang in the Philippines

MarieAnne Sam - Alabang in the Philippines — Sat, 02 May 2009 16:36:44 +0000

I agree -- additional info on how to detect H1N1 symptoms should also be embedded on the 'stewards' do's & don'ts' on a particular flight.

This is very informative and with a gorgeous lady giving the instructions it will surely create compliance even to the most wayward passenger on board!

By: G Jay

G Jay — Sat, 02 May 2009 15:14:41 +0000

Sorry but I still agree with Joe B. Common sence would tell you that you can catch a virus even if the person who sneezes is at the front of Coach and you are at the back. Why? Ask yourself this. If you are in the back of coach, can you not smell food that's being prepared in the front?

By: Miami Steve

Miami Steve — Sat, 02 May 2009 14:00:54 +0000

AC, this is great! You are "right on message" (pun intended!).

By: Donna

Donna — Sat, 02 May 2009 05:05:43 +0000

There's a BIG difference between a private company that will be liable for the health and safety of its passengers making a decision to not travel somewhere, and the Vice President of the United States of America telling the world that he would not want other people to travel in certain situations. Duh.

By: Ed Brown

Ed Brown — Sat, 02 May 2009 05:04:43 +0000

I didn't know Dr. Gendreau or anyone else had all this information on H1N1. In once breath he sounds confident it can't spread more then 3 rows, but then contradicts himself and says it could happen at a larger area. All I really get from his statements is that plans have several air filters. One clear absence in the doctor’s comments is how long the H1N1 spit can live where it lands after someone sneezes.

I contend the Government must know more about this virus than we are told and Joe Biden is right on message to bring honest government forward. Perhaps for a second it is not so much this strain, but the fear of the strain jumping again into some even more dangerous. It usually takes months to find an antiviral.

It is too late to close down the border. And while we do stress tests on our banks; it appears we found our governments plan to stop a virus even more deadly the greater fear "bird flu" also unstoppable. As for the person next to you on the plan – remember they can be a host even without showing signs of symptoms.

So lets watch our senior political leaders get out and press the flesh and if they do; I say fear not because they don’t and they know more than us.

By: DeltaJohn

DeltaJohn — Sat, 02 May 2009 04:58:58 +0000

As a Platinum Medallion frequent flier on Delta, I am definately one of Katharine Lee's biggest fans, I just love her! She has always made me smile watching her wag that finger at me. If I ever die from a horrible case of swine flu, her face and those penetrating blue eyes will be the last thing I think of!

By: Chad Nelson

Chad Nelson — Sat, 02 May 2009 04:45:01 +0000

Considering that the regular old boring flu has killed 12,000 people in America this year, while the swine flu has killed a handful, I would suggest changing the message to:

"Also, for your safety, please stop listening to CNN and all other major news outlets who are hyping up this bunk threat for no apparent reason due to the fact that, your stress level could have an adverse reaction on your heart and pose a far greater risk than swine flu ever will."

Seriously, Swine Flu is a joke.

By: Fatima

Fatima — Sat, 02 May 2009 04:42:42 +0000

I don't agree with the doctor. I got sick 60% of time after an air travel even though the person next to me was not sick. It all depends how easily one gets sick. Dr. Gendreau does not fool me. hen there is an air-spread disease around, better to avoid air travel or any close encounters with strangers.

By: Day C

Day C — Sat, 02 May 2009 04:42:07 +0000

If everyone takes responsibility, that works...but if one passenger doesn't, or if the airline refuses to refund the money, or one person says "my needs are more important" or, basically if we ignore Spock (the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the one) and go about our selfish way, then we will get on that plane with the flu. So... think about how many peole actually pay attention to the flight attendants. I'm guessing that the number would be small no matter how vital the message. IMHO.

By: Victor

Victor — Sat, 02 May 2009 04:36:57 +0000

Dan Quayle! Joe Biden should be the press secretary for the White House. Shameful both the VP and the gov. for causing near hysteria.

By: love it

love it — Sat, 02 May 2009 04:08:44 +0000

I love it. Fellow passengers looking around and telling who has what. It's in line with See something, say something in NY. One step closer to Orwell and 1984! Damn... If I get sick, I will get on that plane no matter what. BUT, if I have to sneeze, I will cover my mouth...

By: allie

allie — Sat, 02 May 2009 04:07:45 +0000

Loved the "director’s note" – use forefinger for come hither gesture.

I really didn't know that a cough only travels 3 feet. Guess that's not too bad.

By: Madhu Thangavelu

Madhu Thangavelu — Sat, 02 May 2009 04:03:11 +0000

Oh, I forgot to add......Can you imagine the finger wagging lady saying "now, if you have the flu, you can't use the toilet" !!!

By: Madhu Thangavelu

Madhu Thangavelu — Sat, 02 May 2009 03:57:41 +0000

Things get more complicated quite easily.

Yes, if the infected passenger walks past your aisle, and happens to sneeze, well, the 3-foot droplet rule becomes useless.

If the infected passenger is walking between sections with different filtration units,again, the virus thwarts the system. All this is rudimentary kindergarten logic, it seems to me.

I also thought that most filtration systems could not trap viral microbes as they are so small and pass through them easily.

Enter reality.
In the real world, in practice, once the infected passenger walks through the cabin to use the toilet to clear his nose and sneeze and clean up in there, I suspect that that small volume toilet immediately is coated from top to bottom with viral droplets, rendering it the most effective transmission agent in the entire fuselage.

So, once again, best not to get on a plane...if the passenger is presenting flu or other symptoms.

By: Diane B

Diane B — Sat, 02 May 2009 03:52:47 +0000

I am not looking forward to my flight next week, 45 minutes from one SW city to another. Open seating means I have 1/3 odds of having a middle seat, no room to duck and cover.
The airlines "no refunds" policy is not flexible at all in terms of any illness. Anyone with a 'sniffle' will want to travel regardless if it means they might lose their airline seat and have to rebook a flight in a few days at a very high price. Bottom line for most folks is the almighty dollar.
Perhaps there needs to be MORE legislation mandating flexibility.
I suppose if common sense were really common, we wouldn't be having most of these discussions.

By: Tony

Tony — Sat, 02 May 2009 03:48:44 +0000

Vice President Joe Biden was not off message, as much as he was ignorant and vocal, something he has been for most of his political career. But hey he is our VP

By: Marie Brewer

Marie Brewer — Sat, 02 May 2009 03:30:57 +0000

I think with what little information we have, no precaution is too much.

By: fuzzynormal

fuzzynormal — Sat, 02 May 2009 03:28:24 +0000

So maybe I have the "swine flu" right now? I feel lousy, but certainly not on the verge of death's door.

Apparently, the research says it's not any more or less dangerous than a typical strain, which kills thousands more people every year than the 175 or so that have succumbed to this particular variety.

I'm young and healthy otherwise so I'm not particularly freaked out.

What a load of media hysteria cr a p. Nothing else to get all hot and bothered about?

By: TexAnnie **

TexAnnie ** — Sat, 02 May 2009 03:26:41 +0000

I think this whole thing is SO overblown. This is just the news du jour... and the media has whipped everybody into a total frenzy. Some common sense should be the watchword– not "let's all panic like a bunch of lemmings".