Dropping some science on ya'll

[cook_ting]

We're trying to decide if we should cancel our trip to Cancun. Swine Flu is all over the news and every fucking story is: OMG it's totally going to kill us all today! It's waiting under your car in the parking lot to eat you! Swine Flu will be the end of civilizationz

Comments

[cook_ting]

Bah! They're fighting in the north and Baja. That's like not visiting NYC because of those Michigan Militia people.

[cook_ting]

All those libertarian accountants and truckers with too much camo and time on their hands have ruined a great metropolis. Damn them!

[couplingchaos]

I personally think it's a lot of hype about a strain of the flu (which can totally suck, but as you say, the flu happens every year).

Things I would consider most would be whether you will have any problems getting out of (or more importantly, back into) the US if you're traveling to areas they consider at-risk. Are you both in good health (no compromised immune systems)? Have you had a standard flu shot this year?

Check the scoop on Cancun in particular, but even if it's just overblown media hype, it may not be worth the hassle because other people are freaking out.

[dr_alycat]

Things I would consider most would be whether you will have any problems getting out of (or more importantly, back into) the US if you're traveling to areas they consider at-risk.

I second this. As long as we can somehow ensure that we don't end up stranded in Mexico, it may be worth the much-hyped risk.

[cook_ting]

This I can't guarantee. Of course, I can't guarantee it traveling from any destination. Still, as US citizens they can't deny us entry into our home country for having the sniffles. There are already so many cases in the US it's not as if containment will work.

[cook_ting]

We're in pretty good health and as of today there hasn't been a single reported case of swine flu in Cancun. Unfortunately, this year's flu shot was based around an avian flu and won't do squat against this variant.

I'm hoping that the grand freakout will keep the resort quiet and child free for the duration of my honeymoon.

[c_m_i]

I dunno if you could cancel completely if you wanted to. Looks like the airlines are being jerks.

I love how CNN's two stories this morning are either freaking out about the swine flu or chastising Biden for freaking people out about the swine flu.

[cook_ting]

I'm not at all surprised at the douchiness of the airlines. Glad I got the flight insurance from Priceline. If it all falls apart in the next few weeks I've got a decent claim for full reimbursement.

I'm guessing this will burn itself out, or at least down to a more reasonable level, in the next month.

[flexagon]

Because I read more blogs than Real Media (tm), I've read much more backlash against the hype than I have actual hype.

To me it does seem pretty bad that a) this flu is happening outside of the normal flu season and b) it's a new strain.