Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 04/30/09
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Tonight on AC360°, the swine flu flight risk. Vice President Joe Biden took a lot of heat today for saying "I would tell members of my family - and I have - I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places right now. It's not that it's going to Mexico. It's you're in a confined aircraft. When one person sneezes, it goes all the way through the aircraft." Is that true? Tonight, 360's Randi Kaye is Keeping them Honest. She spoke with a doctor who studies germs and viruses like swine flu to find out how they spread in air travel. Don't miss her report.
Don't miss Erica Hill's webcast on germs in flight during the commercials. Watch our WEBCAST
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Question for Sanjay Gupta and the other doctor from Atlanta. What about carrying and using the little bottles of hand disinfectants? Those disinfectant dispensers are all over hospitals now. Wouldn't that help for people who have to go on subways and in other public places? Let us all know.
Good evening Anderson, Erica, everyone. Well maybe good that the virus lacks that amino acid because it's kind of widespread already in the US, at least moving in that direction.
Good that last quote from that young woman. Easy to forget how a flu can make someone suffer.
A lot of theories, Dr. Del Rio fires them off, but mainly I think people in Mexico were taken completely by surprise. Double hit of two flus though, with the H1N1 coming at the end of flu season, i think it's the combination of the surprise and a second flu coming in the middle of spring.
Good to hear a bit of good news, cases going down, fatalities going down.
Diana, imagine the impact on the travel industry and hotel workers if there is an unnecessary "no fly" rule put our by Biden!
@Anderson,
"pretty safe" might be a stretch. As another native New Yorker, I'd say they're "O.K."
Jo Ann, That is true, they are always having to correct what Biden says.
Greetings to All! I hope everyone and all loved ones, are feeling well.This is scary stuff!
If you get the mild form of H1N1, and then recover from it, are you then immune from it in the future?
I am surprised to date, I have not heard anyone in the media mention the high cost of the Tamiflu medication. If there is any way to prevent further spread of the swine flu, perhaps the Tamiflu medication be made more affortable. I know that it's about $90 to $100 for a Tamiflu pack? Some have to make choice between food and medication?
Some interesting topics ahead. And all of them somewhat disturbing if you ask me...
Are my dogs safe??
I hope no cases of Swine Flu break out here in Florida.
These subway scenes remind me of Randi's report of how the virus spreads when you sneeze. That image still make me feel...ewww...
goodevening all. are all of the new cases of swine flu only in mexico?
hey sanjay! great to see you again! hello tweeps/FBers, erica, randi, eduarrdo and Ali!
How's speedy the spread is - if one cough in an airline and transmitted to everyone?
H1N1 appears to be treatable in the US, I don't know why people are in such a panic. I agree with POTUS, we need to do our part, watch our hands, stay home if we have the flu, but there's no reason to panic.
Happy Jueves everyone :]
Are there any antibotics that can help prevent someone from having the swine flu?
@Jasmine, I agree with you on that one but Im going to EWU and I know a bunch of people who went to Mexco this last break!
Poor Joe, he does try
I'm following Joe Biden's advice. Can't be too careful.
Hi Anderson.
Mike, Syracuse, NY, I like the way the Obama administration has to translate everything Biden says as though he isn't speaking English.
What we need is the diagnoses of the cases the most precocious possible, for it can to enter a specific medication and not increase the number of deaths.
Sounds like this is no more fatal than regular flu. Why are we acting like it's the bubonic plague.
What are the chances the virus will mutate again before the Fall/Winter flu season and cause a bigger concern? Is that the focus now along with containment of course?
Biden made perfect sense. Stay out of crowds. What is the fuss about?
H1V1 or Swine Flu?
"Swine Flu" is still part of the internet address for the WHO.
And "Swine Flu" is still part of the "breaking news" of AC360
Biden made another gaff on The Today Show this morning. God, you can't go 2 weeks without him having a gaff!
Fort Worth schools are closed until May 11.
@heather, don't be worried about the flu in Spokane.... we're strong people in eastern washington!
There are only 257 confirmed cases worldwide. Let's not panic. The chances of any of you contracting it are very small.
It will be great when this flu thing fizzles. If I don't get sick from the actual swine flu, the media coverage of it is enough to kill me.
Good evening Anderson et al (& Erica, David G. Dr. Gupta)Terrific coverage this week!
Good evening fellow bloggers! Really great commentary & questions & stories so far this week!
Looking forward to tonight's coverage & blog (as always)
Good and a health evening everyone!
I just found out today that there are two possible cases of H1N1 here in Spokane. Too close for comfort here
Yup, there we are on the map. 2 confirmed cases in Colorado announced today.
Why highlight the entire state? Why not just the city?
And Kentucky has a confirmed case, except the girl (who just got back from Mexico) went to Georgia and THEN started feeling sick. And KY wanted to keep it quiet, but GA immediately put it out there that it WASN'T a "real" Georgia case.
Those red states, the confirmed cases of swine flu, that keep adding up is alarming.
Greetings all!
Good evening everybody! Swine flu on the agenda continues.
love Biden's gaff been waiting all year for one... 😀
Good Evening Anderson and Erica! Looks like a great show tonight!
Good Evening Anderson, Erica, Team 360 (inclucing Jack) and Fellow Bloggers -
Hope no one coughed on you today!!
Another busy night in the news - curious what Sanjay has to say about H1N1 virus -
Hello Anderson. Although Biden manages to have foot-in-mouth disease way too often, in this case he was peaking thruth. I'm flying tomorrow and again Monday and I'm not happy about it.
Is there any evidence yet this Version of H1N1 is a man-made hybrid because it seems so unusual to see all 3 strains (human, porcine and avian) from 4 continental sources all in one germ. Could there have been an accidental lab leak?
Anderson,
13,000 students in my county can possibly loose the accreditation of their schools in 30 days, due to our county's board of education being corrupt. There is racism, threats, lies, etc etc. going on here in Burke County NC, and the citizens can not get help from any politician, including the governor! HELP US GET SOME AWARENESS AD RESOLVE.
My Question:
Please explain how the Swine Flu is any different from annual flus we see each year. Why all the precautions now – and not for common flus that people are dying from daily.
???
Good evening Anderson, Erica, David G., Dr.Sanjay, AC360 team, and all bloggers.
Swine flu is still going strong, still scary.
I am looking forward to the show tonight.
Hellooo Anderson, Erica, David G, and my friend twitter/Facebook bloggers!!! Thanks God It's Friday night.
Can't wait forward this weekend!
Here is from my hometown, it is possible that we have many school closed this list, It is this message from State Health Department have many closed right now Here are:
Five school closures also have been announced so far due to swine flu:
– Madrona K-8 school in Seattle (through May 7)
– Odyssey Elementary school in Mukilteo (on Friday)
– Woodmont Elementary in Federal Way (through May 11)
– Aki Kurose Middle School (through May 7)
– Stevens Elementary School (through May 7)
Good Evening, Anderson!
Hi, 360 team
Hi, friends and bloggers
Now we are talking about H1N1? 🙂
Hiya Anderson, Erica, my smartees..Eduardo (Ed Henry) & V-money(Ali Velshi)..
This swine flu is rapidly spreading..I think panic is setting in..we have a lot of ppl crossing the border..is there a plan to close the border?
Good evening Anderson and everyone