Okay Quick's Draw, we head back to south of border ...
Posted on 04/28/2009 10:05:05 AM PDT by MindBender26
Posted: 10:41 am EDT April 28, 2009 Updated: 12:48 pm EDT April 28, 2009
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Eyewitness News has learned of Orlando's first confirmed case of swine flu, however Florida Hospital is denying the claim, which was made by one of their own officers in an email. According to the chief medical officer for Adventist Health System, which operates Florida Hospital, the case was diagnosed Tuesday morning.
"A case was diagnosed here in Orlando today on a tourist from Mexico who came to Disney attractions two days ago to visit," CMO Loran Hauck wrote in an email obtained by Eyewitness News.
But during an early Tuesday afternoon press conference called by Florida Hospital in regard to Eyewitness News' report, the hospital denies any confirmed cases exist.
"We understand that sometime in the past 24 hours there was an email sent from a Florida Hospital person to another person trying to educate them about how not to get the flu," Dr. Scott Brady of Florida Hospital said during the press conference. "There have been some reports indicating that there was in fact a case of the flu somewhere in the Disney area, but that has not been confirmed at this time."
WFTV reporter Kathi Belich then asked Brady specifically about the email reporting at least one confirmed swine flu case.
"There have been no confirmed cases of swine flu by the CDC in Central Florida," Brady responded.
Belich then pressed Brady on the email from Hauck.
"I have not talked to the chief medical officer about this," Brady said.
No further details have been released, but Eyewitness News is working to learn specifically what days the tourist was at the parks and which park the tourist went to. Details about the tourist, beyond being from Mexico, have not been released.
Eyewitness News contacted the Orange County Health Department late Tuesday morning. They said they were unable to confirm the report.
"There are no confirmed cases in Orange County," said Dr. Kevin Sherin, Orange County health officer.
Sherin also told Eyewitness News he does not know whether local hospitals are able to "subtype" the strain of influenza A they are treating. The Health Department said they are more focused on the bigger picture of public safety and are trying to determine whether any cases are genetically traceable back to Mexico.
Disney told Eyewitness News late Tuesday morning that they have not received any confirmation about a swine flu case involving a guest.
Too late, Disney. The cat’s out of the bag. There’s no saving the mouse now.
I don’t think anyone is freaking out. I do think it’s good to know what the heck is going on and to keep up with it which is what most of us are doing.
U.S. Human Cases of Swine Flu Infection
http://www.cdc.gov/SwineFlu/
(As of April 28, 2009 11:00 AM ET) State # of laboratory
confirmed cases
California 10 cases
Kansas 2 cases
New York City 45 cases
Ohio 1 case
Texas 6 cases
TOTAL COUNT 64 cases
When will you be? After 100 people that you personally know have it, and 6% of them are dead? Which 6 of your 100 friends do you want to see die?
You’re probably right, we should do nothing and let it run its course. That’s a much better idea than to take any precautions. Oh, and you don’t mind if I sneeze on you and your family, do you? I just got back from Mexico City last night. But don’t freak out, because only 0.00000026% of us have it. As of yesterday’s confirmed numbers anyway.
Wide and deep...git yer boots on!
Keep us posted on developments, please MB26 :)
In The Stand no one could hide.
Per other articles, the CDC doesn’t confirm the cases.
A case gets reported to the CDC when local agencies confirm it’s swine flu.
So, I don’t buy this story at all.
Here is what I don’t understand. From the WHO website:
“27 April 2009 — As of 27 April 2009, the United States Government has reported 40 laboratory confirmed human cases of swine influenza A(H1N1), with no deaths. Mexico has reported 26 confirmed human cases of infection with the same virus, including seven deaths. Canada has reported six cases, with no deaths, while Spain has reported one case, with no deaths.”
How do these 26 cases and 7 deaths confirmed in Mexico relate to the 1500 cases and 149 deaths that are reported by media for Mexico?
Some possible worst case scenarios: One possible answer may be that those who traveled to Mexico are healthier than those found in a general population so that those who got sick while in Mexico where in better general health. If so then those who are secondarily infected will include people of all ranges of health and some of those people may not be strong enough to survive this flu. Another possibility is their may be a cycle where the person appears to have recovered but the flu comes back a second time to the same person only more deadly.
Allow people to leave, but close the incoming gates. I know, some will find a way in, but at least we can limit the number. The U.S. should use military forces to shut down incoming traffic from Mexico.
Did I say I “didn’t want anyone to take precautions”? No. Nice straw man argument there—thanks for putting words in my mouth. No, I have no interest in getting all worked up and freaked out over something that I have absolutely no control over. What should I do? Stay in the house 24/7? Not go to work? Keep my kids home from school everyday? You tell me. What can I do, here in mid-Missouri, to stop the “swine flu” from spreading? Or should I just run around screaming “we’re all gonna die!” Maybe that would make things better. There is NOTHING you, me, or anyone else can do about it—it’s a virus—it’s going to spread some. Yes, some people will probably die from it and that is tragic and I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy, but panicking and flipping out isn’t going to solve one problem.
Thanks, but you misunderstood my question (I wasn’t very clear):
Media is reporting 1500 cases and 149 deaths in Mexico.
But the WHO website (per that blurb from yesterday), is reporting 26 “laboratory confirmed” cases and 7 deaths - FOR MEXICO.
My question is why the huge difference in numbers FOR MEXICO between the Media and the WHO ?
Is it lab-confirmed vs suspected?
Is it lag time between lab tests and WHO reporting on their website?
Is it media hype?
Other?
There are 14 threads in breaking news regarding the “swine flu.” I’d say we approaching “freak out” status pretty rapidly. It’s good to stay informed, yes I agree, but I am not going to put my life on hold because of it (not that you are implying anything like that).
I don’t see anyone here panicking, flipping out, screaming “we’re all going to die!”, or anything of the sort. We’re discussing something that has the potential to kill tens of millions of us. All things considered, I’d say the discussion has been pretty level-headed.
First, I still don’t think you can fathom the amount of trade and people that regularly cross the border and the amount of legal goods we are dependent on.
Second, the virus is already here and will spread on its own. In other words, the horses are out of the barn and closing the door isn’t going to matter.
Well, surely the U.S. military is capable of defending our own border with Mexico. There would be other benefits to closing down the border, such as demonstrating our will and our ability to stop illegal immigration. The world would take note. I don’t suggest a permanent closure.
Obama of course is not about to take strong action to defend our border, so it’s all academic.
I understand what you are saying. My was post was in response to the guy who asked me “when will will I be worried about it?” If I get it, or my kids get it, then I guess I will be worried about it. What good does it do me to sit around and worry about it now? None. That’s all I’m saying. It’s obviously not a good thing, but neither are tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, fires, traffic accidents, and extremist nutjob muslims with nukes, but I don’t spend my time worrying about them much either because for the most part there isn’t a damn thing that me, sitting here at my computer can do about any of them. That’s the only point I’m trying to make.
“Living in this area....you can bet if a Mexican with Mexican Flu was walking around Disney....Disney will try to cover it up.”
That is a safe bet.
What if he was in this country as an illegal and maybe trying to get a job at Disney?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.