I have read many, many articles on H1N1, both academic and more mainstream, since last April. I just read one article on CNN (originally from Health.com) that I find refreshingly practical, relatively comprehensive, and which treats us like adults, so I thought I would point it out to folks.

It neither simply parrots the CDC line nor does it echo the crazy stuff you read on the Internet over and over again. It puts the current and potential risk into perspective, and gives practical info and options. Definitely one of the best articles I have read that I would point a not-particularly-scientific type to. Of course, as we progress into the autumn and winter, some of this advice may not be appropriate depending on how circumstances unfold, but for the moment, it's good advice.

The article can be found here .

I also recommend
http://www.nhs.uk/news/Pages/NewsIndex.aspx
and
http://www.badscience.net/2009/09/how-to-read-articles-about-health-by-dr-alicia-white/#more-830

That second article about how to read a health article is a good reference. Thanks for that. I wish they would teach this stuff in high school to everyone.

Our family just got through a bout with H1N1. Our son brought it home from school. then my wife and then me. It had the hardest effect on our 15yr old. We all took Tamiflu. It was like any other flu. Also we use germ x like crazy,wash hands often, I would perform saline flush in sinus cavity and listerine gargles,but still got it!

I just heard The US president declared H1N1 to be a National Emergency.
What does that mean?

Dunno, but I'd take a wild guess that the release of federal funds is involved.

EDIT: whoops, my bad, I spoke to soon. Seems it has to do with allowing alternate sites for care, outside of the existing rules. In the event things get ugly, this may be needed. Hope it doesn't get there.

Yep.

And differing levels of aid from government agencies ( real people, not just funds )

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/24/AR2009102401061.html

Among other things,


http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/24/health/main5417431.shtml
has additional things hospitals could do.

I can't even figure out what's going on with H1N1 any more. Maybe excessive paranoia.

If you look at the CDC data, this bug is supposed to be in epidemic proportions around the USA.

Well guess what ... I live in So. California and I don't know even ONE person who's had it. Not even one. The company where I work has nearly 4,000 people - I have not heard of anyone getting it. My church probably has 800-1,000 people - but I have not heard of anyone getting it. Not even one person with a diagnosis of H1N1.

Beats me what's going on.
Media paranoia maybe.

Pete

Wait for it.

My Mom came down with assumed H1N1. It came on like a train about 1 week ago, and is still not over. In a household with a grandaughter and daughter, still waiting for it it spread, but daughter is an RN and has been good about taking precautions. It really wiped out Mom, and requires alot of basic care - my sister has been calling in sick to care for her. Various of us kids looking in, providing some primary care. No matter what, its serious when someone you know has caught it.

So the pandemic is real, just not in your neck of the woods yet.