Comments on: The Gathering Storm: H1N1

By: DLS

DLS — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:43:58 +0000

“As more of the poor go to public clinics and ERs for their treatment, I believe that the flu will could well spread through the poor at a higher rate than upper income groups.”

Don't forget airports and bus stations (for intercity buses), and what the current state of affairs in Detroit (the city), with its possible reduction of city bus services, involves, the many who can't afford to drive or don't (one claim is that 40% of Detroit residents are car-less), and who will be on the bus.

By: HemmD

HemmD — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 21:06:28 +0000

The question of ER or doctor's office dovetails nicely into our past discussions about health care access. As CStanley pointed out, her kid's pediatrician is already enforcing a mask rule. As more of the poor go to public clinics and ERs for their treatment, I believe that the flu will could well spread through the poor at a higher rate than upper income groups. I'm assuming neither free or public clinics or ERs will have the where with all to provide masks.

By: DLS

DLS — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:12:59 +0000

There's a nugget in there that probably caught Joe's eye and was a reason for his quoting it:

"we think much less about its role as a public health infrastructure"

Yes, not simply for that part of preventive care that involves prophylactic vaccination for childhood and seasonal diseases, etc., but "public health" as in epidemology and in fighting outbreaks and pandemics (a misused word, but one that people have a good understanding of nevertheless), as well as related activities, for example, after natural or man-made disasters.

This is something I had suggested should be a preferred object of efforts to expand federal health care in this country (so many don't even think at all of the role the states should actually be playing) rather than the current effort.

By: DLS

DLS — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:07:15 +0000

Hype does not help … the public. On the other hand, its timing is propitious for helping the ailing Dem health care effort (as is exploiting sympathy for Ted Kennedy's death, and whatever else the Scrambling Few can manage to employ in this regard; given the proponents' behavior, anything is open to suspicion).

By: CStanley

CStanley — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:31:34 +0000

You're just as likely to spread the virus whether you go to the ER or your regular doctor.

Well, pretty much true except wait times are generally going to be longer at an ER (assuming you don't present with life threatening symptoms) and the other people in that environment are more likely to have other conditions that put them at higher risk if they are exposed.

In either case- the recommendations are to stay home except if you need to seek medical care, and then if you do have to go to the doctor you should wear a mask. I know my kids' pediatrician is already enforcing a mask rule in their waiting room and will supply people with them if they have any respiratory symptoms.

Everyone should prepare. Hopefully this won't be a huge, serious pandemic but it could be.

CDC has a lot of resources to answer questions, and checklists to make preparations:
What to do if you develop flu like symptoms
Caring for someone in your home who is sick with flu symptoms
And here's a checklist for family preparations (including a list of items to keep on hand.)

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Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:33:19 +0000

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By: DaGoat

DaGoat — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 14:13:29 +0000

The backstop to all this chaos is that you can go to an emergency room when things get really bad. That’s fine for a car accident. It’s not good for preventing the spread of the flu. You don’t go to the emergency room when you’re a bit sick. You go when you’ve become really ill. Which not only increases the likelihood that you wait until you get really sick, but with the flu, that you infect many others along the way. That in turn gives the flu more opportunities to mutate into something much worse.

I think Klein kind of lost his way here trying to tie H1N1 to health care system problems. If you are just a little bit sick, you should not go either to the ER or your regular physician, you should stay home. I have not read any info to the contrary. You're just as likely to spread the virus whether you go to the ER or your regular doctor.