# 28

Posted: 23/09/2009 14:16

Actually, Aanne, this is NOT the seasonal flu. They are two seperate virii - that is the whole point. There are also two different vaccinations. Elderly people are the ones affected by seasonal flu  - which differs every year so the immunity is not sustained, wheras yoing people are affected by H1N1. Sadly, it;s not just as a case of that they "have to go through the process to build up their own immunity for the future like everyone else" wqhich shouldbe obvious by the factthat hundreds have died from this very cause.

# 27

Posted: 03/09/2009 09:04

Jager misses, I hope you're right. I'm not a worrier by nature but I think it;s natural to be worried when something like this comes along.

# 26

Posted: 03/09/2009 09:03

Just relax folks, calm down and dont panic about this so called swine flu.  Its just the ordinary flu that people usually get coming into winter months and as most older people are immune having had flus in the past, naturally children will be the hardest hit and its only natural that they will get it and will just have to go through the process to build up their own immunity for the future like everyone else. 

Unfortunately children cannot be kept in a bubble and with increased class sizes and with the new foreign mix of pupil in the last decade, its only natural that infections will occur.

# 25

Posted: 02/09/2009 13:56

Chris

Hi Daisy, this so called 'cost-saving' in education may end up cost more in terms of halth expenditure in the long run. Pinching pennies to loose pounds, as they say. Our daughters are at the age where they have the sense to follow advice on handwashing, sneezing, sanaitizing and keep towels seperate but We have a little fellow who is in early primary now and I am worried about him. The school is supplying hand gel for the first couple of weeks but after that parents have to supply it - which is fine provided we all do. I would prefer he use paper towels and would be prepared to contribue to cost for the school. I would prefer this to flannels or even his own hand towel because hand towels are not disposabbe and in the nature of young children you never know where they leave these things around. I don't understand what you mean by school flag tho'. I missed your reference there. The interestign thing, I have found lately is my brother-in-law, who works overseas, was telling us that in the company he works in, within days of the swine flu reaching pandemic status, the taps and dryer were removed from all of the toilets on the premises and replaced with sensor controlled taps and sensor controled blade air dryers for hands to minimise staff from risk of infection, Hi Porky, sounds like you're feeling better and indeed that your daughter's school has its act together. My older one is in secondary now and they seem to be better prepared and provisioned than the primary somehow.

# 24

Posted: 01/09/2009 23:23

Its being controlled but all preple are different some will worry others wont. I think the children will be fine, The HSE made to much hype about it and scared people about it.

# 23

Posted: 01/09/2009 19:37

Hi All, Chris thank you for the 'smiley'.  I've had a tough day but heh, by the weekend I'll be jumping on the trampoline! Have to believe that, don't cha. Been put on the Tamiflu, I'm a few hours after the first tablet and for the first time today my eyes/nose aren't running like a tap. Don't knoe if that's down to the tablet but I don't care, feeling better is all that matters.  My daughter had her first day back in school, into 2nd year.  Her school have hand sanitizers in every classroom and on the corridors! VEC school, just in case anyone is wondering!!!!

# 22

Posted: 01/09/2009 14:06

My children have returned to school one who has just started junior infants.Am I worried?? You better believe I am. Our school has decided to discontinue the use of paper towel in the school (a) cost (B) school flag.Instead they've decided the use of a flannel in a wash bag is better Hello???????? Who for exactly? To me and information on other hygiene websites this causes more germs to multiply. Will I send in a flannel? No, but I am going to send in hand gels instead . If this was a creche they would have to follow strict guidelines of hygiene yet when it comes to being under the government, children are forgotten,it just seems such a waste that money always holds the upper hand and if it comes in the guise of a "green flag" what next goes?

# 21

Posted: 01/09/2009 13:57

Chris

Hi Porky :-) hope you're feeling better. Good point GW, but then I am cynicaly thinking, foot and mouth affected out agri industry, sure this only affects people!Hi John, if this were nothing more thna ordinary flu then it wouldn't affect predominantly young people (they would not have residual immunity to any flu) and many who are otherwise healthy, it would not be far more contagious than other forms of flu and nor would it have made thousands sick (and that's only those who were diagnosed) - some of whom had to be flown from the UK to Sweden for treatment (there is an article right here on this site about that) and killed thousands more. The second victim here DID NOT have heart - the family have come out and stated this. It is only normal and human and natural for any parent to be worried and of cpurse they are goign to want to keep the child from school, pafrticulalry an at risk child, rahte than risk a potentially fatal illness.

# 20

Posted: 01/09/2009 10:15

Ann unfortunately the swine flu is not "just another con" - it is a very real and potentially serious disease with the possibility to kill (as I am sure those recently bereaved by it will confirm). I am sure these people wish it was a con.

# 19

Posted: 31/08/2009 23:03

The hype continues. The recommendation for anyone suffering from flu-like symptoms (unless they are in an at-risk group) is to stay at home and take paracetamol. This is a flu, nothing more. The reason that young people seem to be more affected than older people is because it is presuned that a similar flu was around before and older people have some residual immunity. The two people who have died in Ireland were both in at-risk groups (Cystic Fibrosis and heart failure). So nobody should panic or keep their children away from school.

# 18

Posted: 31/08/2009 19:50

I think if we show the same determination as we showed with Foot & Mouth we can limit the effects of Swine Flu. 

Our local primary school has provided tissues & gel for week 1 and have re-arranged desks to reduce risk of contamination.  From next week children have to bring their own tissues & gel. I think is good training for them and hope that they will also bring their supply of tissues to other venues e.g. extra curricular activities

I share doubts with previous contributor regarding warm class rooms with 30+ people breathing the same air.  One can only hope that the teachers in charge will try to keep the windows open for as long as possible.  Of course I know, from peronal memory,  its hard to learn if you are freezing cold! 

# 17

Posted: 31/08/2009 18:55

Hi All,

I am confined to my bed, as of today because I have symptoms of Swineflu. Of course this is all precautionary for the next 24 hours until my doctor speaks with me again tomorrow to see if things have changed any before deciding on next steps, ie. taking Tamiflu. Not pleasant at all!  I am a 47y/o Mom, just returned from 2 weeks holiday in Europe with my daughter. We had a wonderful time but unfortunately symptoms came on rapidly since returning home only Friday night. My daughter returns to school tomorrow & yes I am very concerned, although she is super fit and all necessary measures have been taken in our home.  Bacterial wipes used when & where necessary and with there only being the two of us, I am in my bedroom with my own bathroom (very fortunate for me), my laptop & mobile as my communication to the outside & of course to my daughter when I need fluids.  I do not feel good and it is taking me a helluva lot longer than normal to write this small piece but after signing in to get updates on Swineflu, doing survey & seeing some of your comments, I thought I have to say something.  I do not think this should be taken lightly & I really do think you who make comments on the HSE making this out to be some kind of con to boost their own image is pretty sad to say the least.  I'm very much the kind of person who always tries to look on the bright side of life & even to laugh at myself although situations are or can be grim at the time, hence the nickname 'Porky'.  I look forward to delivering a healthier & happier comment next time.  Enjoy the rest of your evening

# 16

Posted: 31/08/2009 17:00

Chris

Hi Ellen Mary, I'm not sure if diabetic chidren are more at risk, sorry. Ann, the fact remians that swine flue has killed - hundreds in the EU and 2 in Irleand so far. It differs from ordinary flue in that it is more likely to affect younger people and children. Pen pushers won't save anyone tho'. Doctors, specialists and nurses will. There were very few instances of cross contamination with bird flu, that is not the case with swine flu tho'. Are you a parent? It is easy to tell parents to cop on - but they know that so far people have been infected and people have died from this. It is only normal to be worried. Tho I fail to see what it has to do with the Lisbon treaty.Lizzy, as a parent I agree with you.

# 15

Posted: 30/08/2009 21:15

I am worried that our schools wont be closed because the economy would be troubled by it.This was reported on the news tonight which is more important to the government and the HSE our childrens health or the health of our economy.I will keep my kids home if the school they go to gets cases of swine flu and I dont care a fig what they do about it.

# 14

Posted: 30/08/2009 18:53

 I was just wondering. Are the swine flu germs not in the air? I'm thinking of a warm classroom with c.30 kids all breathing the same air. In which case surely hand washing etc would be a waste of time.

# 13

Posted: 30/08/2009 18:01

The schools have no money.Many of the payments to schools have been abolished this year so everything is very tight.How could they provide gels etc?How much do you think that it would cost?

In my opinion it is the job of parents to inform and teach their children about appropriate behaviour relating to hygiene,hand washing,disposal of tissues etc and for students to bring adequate supplies.

# 12

Posted: 28/08/2009 20:05

John is dead right, like everything else in this country the swine flu is just another con, but by the HSE this time, just to keep themselves in jobs.  If they can get us panicked enough about swine flue people will not be eager to tolerate job cuts in their organisation will they.  We're going to need all those pen pusher to save us I suppose.  In fact it might even mean hiring extra staff to cope with the panic.  Nice work if you can get it.

In my opinion it will just die a death just like the bird flu that never killed the millions the WHO predicted two years ago.

Parents should cop themselves on and get real.  We've all suffered enough spin from the FF spin doctors this last decade to be able to see through it at this stage.

John is dead right

like our inept govt whose latest scaremongering con of telling us that we are all doomed if we do not obey their dikdat the Lisbon treaty is not

# 11

Posted: 28/08/2009 19:51

I am concerned about my child when he goes back to school as he is a diabetic.

# 10

Posted: 27/08/2009 17:40

Chris

Hi John and all, I just wanted to say that post No. 8 was mine. Forgot to sign my name. Hi Eczemamom, Mine tend to bring their own tissues as it is but we haven't been told anything about hand-towels. It does seem to be a good idea tho. But would spreading the infection all depend on how the hand-towels are treated - as in, where they are left lying around in schools etc. Hand wash in schools should be a bsic, as it is in every public establishment and workplace. The paper towels would be a good idea too - if you could be sure that the bins would be emptied and they'd be disposed of properly at the end of each day.

# 9

Posted: 27/08/2009 11:46

My 6 year old has been asked to bring in his own hand towel own tissues and hand gel. I have no problem with this but what measures are the school taking? Surely they should be providing disposable hand towels and sanitising gel or just basic handwash.

# 8

Posted: 26/08/2009 14:11

Hi John, Thank you or pointing that out but in Europe swine cases were much later than in the U.S. So for my own reference and to form an opinion, no I would not take U.S. and Mexico out of the equation.

# 7

Posted: 26/08/2009 10:21

i would be concerned for my children. The two deaths in Ireland have been in the summer months, when we have had some-what good weather . i have two children in primary education, the younger with a suppressed immune system and asthma. i would be a fool not to be concerned.

# 6

Posted: 25/08/2009 19:55

Chris - you will note that in my post I stated that in EUROPE swine flu deaths are not a major cause of mortality. If you take Mexico and the US out of the total mortality figure you will see that my post was correct.

# 5

Posted: 25/08/2009 14:29

Chris

John, there have been 1800 confirmed deaths from swine flu so far, do you mean that there are more deaths for 'ordinary' flu every year. If that is the case, then is it not so, that the extra concern surrounding the swine flu is based on the fact that victims are more likely to be from the untypical category - young and otherwise healthy. Zebedee, I know with Primary schools at any rate parents and guardians are being asked to keep a child with symptoms out of school for a week. I cannot see the hand sanitizers working. Those I am contemplating sending mine pout with little bottled of their own hand sanitizers, but would the youngest remember to use it? Some parents I've spoken to are worried that such recommendations will end up with children being sent home en-masse, parents havignto tkae leave as result and workplaces being half-staffed which leads to more absenteeism. This though sounds like hysteria to me.

# 4

Posted: 25/08/2009 12:32

Like many other parents of young children, yes I am concerned. It is crazy that steps are not being implemented for when the children return. Methods such as:-

Hand sanitisers could be stationed at all school entrances, with teachers supervising their use. Parents can be advised to keep children out of school if any of the symptoms appear or send children home if appear while in class (this only appears paranoid until we have lots of cases, perhaps even a death in a school because one child innocently passed on to others).

Of coure, this is Ireland, so no such preventative measures will be implemented.

Zebedee

# 3

Posted: 25/08/2009 09:56

Chris

Not for my eldest no, as they tend to be good about washing and and covering their mouths but among younger children I would be. Especially those who are asthmatic.

# 2

Posted: 24/08/2009 21:36

No. The whole swine flu scare has been hyped by the HSE to rescue some of its credibilty. The HSE top dogs know that swine flu is not a serious flu. In fact the mortality from swine flu is less per capita (in Europe) than from our ordinary everyday winter flu. When this flu blows over, the the HSE spindoctors will be clapping each other on the back at the praise they will get for 'saving' Ireland from something equivalent to the black death.

# 1

Posted: 24/08/2009 21:36

No. The whole swine flu scare has been hyped by the HSE to rescue some of its credibilty. The HSE top dogs know that swine flu is not a serious flu. In fact the mortality from swine flu is less per capita (in Europe) than from our ordinary everyday winter flu. When this flu blows over, the the HSE spindoctors will be clapping each other on the back at the praise they will get for 'saving' Ireland from something equivalent to the black death.