Melissa Bean Cancels Swine Flu Speech After Daughter Gets Flu

Chicago Sun-Times:

U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean was supposed to make an appearance in Hoffman Estates this morning to help spread the word about preventing H1N1 swine flu -- but had to cancel because her daughter got sick with, you guessed it, swine flu.

Read the whole story: Chicago Sun-Times

Comments

[02bmw76]

I live very close to Kalamazoo, Michigan. Most, if not all schools in our area are closed for a few days due to the flu outbreak. My wife works at one of two hospitals here and reported that last night they were in a code black(disaster) for the overwhelming amount of people showing up with the flu. The other major hospital in town was reportedly turning people away as well. One has to wonder if fear is making anyone with the flu think it might be the swine flu. I thought it was interesting that an entire school district closes and we aren't hearing anything about it outside of locally.

[tlgeiger62]

How does anyone know they have regular or H1N1 when they keep telling people not to go to the doctor. I find all the coverage of the flu outbreak lacking. There's no vaccine available here in GA anywhere I look. I'm told they're out, they didn't get the whole shipment. My pediatrician notified us 3 days after offering appointments that they were done - no more shots, no more vaccine. Health dept. is out. Pharmacies that sceduled clinics have cancelled them.

Not sure why this isn't in the news but there is no vaccine here in GA unless maybe you "know somebody".

Best course of action to survive either flu is to stay hydrated and get Vitamin C so if you DO get it, you have a better chance.

[jcause28]

I hope her family has a good recovery. If you have children, get them vaccinated if it's available., as well as yourself if you are a caretaker of a newborn.

[tlgeiger62]

There hasn't been any vaccine to be had here in GA. THAT is the biggest hoax going on that no one is reporting ... the shortage of BOTH vaccines.

[ainnj]

I agree, at least with respect to the H1N1 vaccine. Plenty of seasonal flu shots available but absolutely NO H1N1 shots in my county in central New Jersey.
WHy doesn't anyone talk about that on the news instead of all the reasons you HAVE to get the vaccine.

[TruelyFedUp]

Natural Remedies advice from a nurse
How to avoid getting the flu.

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications) .

2. "Hands-off-the- face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

[TruelyFedUp]

4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*

5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off
proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.

I suggest you pass this on to your entire e-list. You never know 20 who might pay attention to it - and STAY ALIVE because of it.

Truly

[llisa]

Fanned, and thank you for some practical information, some of which I had never heard before.

[Olerist]

Pfizer, Novartis and GSK are all expected to send their campaign donations anyway.