Swine Flu: What An ‘Informed Parent’ Needs to Know
Posted April 28, 2009 – 11:19 am in: health tips, swine fluThe reported death toll has risen to 152 in Mexico and there are now over 50 confirmed cases in the US, but the prevailing wisdom is that there is no reason to get too worried about it. According to Dr. Jay Tureen, pediatrician and infectious disease specialist from San Fransisco, CA, “Parent’s shouldn’t panic. They should be aware and concerned, but not panicked.”
Here are some highlights of Dr. Tureen’s comments for parents concerning swine flu -
Should my children be washing their hands more than usual?
Yes, this is the best way to prevent the spread of a flu virus.
If my child didn’t get a flu shot this year, should I take her in for one at the last-minute?
No. This year’s flu shot doesn’t offer protection against this virus.
Can I feed my child pork?
Absolutely. You don’t catch the virus by eating swine. It’s spread by human-to-human contact only.
If my child contracts the virus can she be treated?
This particular virus can be treated with antiviral drugs. You can also take medication prophylatically, so if one child contracts it others in the family can take drugs so they won’t catch the flu.
2 Comments
You need to get your facts straight. As of Friday, May 1st, there are only 12 confirmed
swine flu deaths in Mexico, and only 300 confirmed swine flu cases in Mexico. “Estimated” figures don’t mean anything. The common flu kills several hundred-thousand people world-wide every year, over 30,000 of those in the U.S.. Stop spreading hype.
Thank you for your feedback. To your suggestion of ‘hype’ - this is a summary of an article on common questions that parents might have about the swine flu, and it is clearly stated that the prevailing wisdom is there is no need to panic.
If the reported (not confirmed) 152 deaths ended up being accurate, it would account for merely a fraction of a percent of the yearly deaths from the common flu (as you point out) and should not elicit fear. Either way, the intention here is clearly not ‘hype’, but rather sharing tips and dispelling rumors. However, if you would provide a link to a source which indicates the number of yearly deaths we would be happy to include it in the summary to give added perspective.
To keep facts straight, as of Friday, May 1st, Mexico raised its confirmed death count from 15 to 16 and the confirmed cases of the virus to 397. They are not adequately equipped to confirm cases in a timely enough manner to use “confirmations” as accurate estimates. - http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090502/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_swine_flu_mexico