We’ve been trying to avoid the flu stuff that’s been so saturated on TV and elsewhere. But as CHS reported this morning (and as ladye linked to), the story has hit home here in the neighborhood in a pretty big way. Last night public health authorities announced that a Madrona K-8 student had flu-like symptoms. And when school officials found out that the student had been at school last Friday when the symptoms began, they decided to close the school for seven days “out of an abundance of caution“.
Two siblings of that original 11-year old in Madrona appears to have also contracted the flu.
It’s important to say that so far none of the cases in King County have been officially confirmed to be swine flu, and although one child has been hospitalized, all victims are described as “improving” by the public health department.
Apart from the three cases described above, seven other people in the county are suspected of being infected with the virus, including a man in his 20s, a woman in her 30s, a woman in her 20s, two children under the age of five, and two children between the ages of five and twelve.
Based on those new cases, two other Seattle schools are now closed through May 8th: Aki Kurose in South Seattle, and Stevens Elementary on Capitol Hill.
The suggestions given by public health authorities are pretty simple:
- Sneeze or cough into a tissue, elbow or sleeve. Throw the tissue away.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- If you are sick, stay home.
We’ll keep tabs on it and let you know if there’s any other impacts here locally.
There’s been a run on hand sanitizer around here. At Bartell’s on Rainier I was reduced to buying samples (and there was something in the household cleaning section that no one had discovered: Lysol foaming liquid hand sanitizer. It’s good!). Later I did some shopping on Capitol Hill, and checked that Bartell’s — also wiped out! Though I found someone’s secret stash: 5 bottles of Purell hidden behind the hand creams. Bwa-ha-ha!
btw, soap and water works fine. No need for Purell.
If soap and water works fine and there is no need for Purell, why did you drive all over town buying up all of the last stashes and samples of purell???
It was errand day, and I was making the rounds. I didn’t go out of my way.
My public-school son has asthma, and even the mildest virus has sent him to the ER. When’s the last time YOU tried to get a 6-year-old boy to thoroughly wash his hands? And his friends too? Heh.
We all have our reasons, my friend. Think before you snark.
I didn’t get the robocalls about it, but that’s what’s up.
Since the active ingredient in Purell is alcohol, will I be safe if I just say home and drink martinis all day?
haha.
Posted on Facebook..
So with this wine flu can I cure it by drinking up my wine cellar?
When pigs fly….the swine flu.
Stupid relief.