FLU PANDEMIC – Stay Home or Go To Work Sick?
When tiny terrorists come knocking, can you afford to stay home when you get the flu? Do you have insurance? Is you job secure? Is your boss sympathetic to the larger picture of workplace health and it’s effect on PUBLIC HEALTH? The United States is talking about declaring a Public Health Emergency … will that make you stay home, if you have one? Will you loose your job? This is where the Federal Government must set solid guidelines for all Public Health issues, like it or not. OR, we can all move to Nebraska!Where is Homeland Security? If potential Pandemic is at the doorstep, the condition of the “Homeland” seems obvious. The sad state of US health care availability, thanks to prior administration policies of health care for the privileged, has come back to bite us in the ass.
This is an H1N1 strain of influenza A. (Credit: Dr. E. Palmer; R.E. Bates)
For the USA, the decision to make sick employees stay home is ultimately left to the employer. Federal employees have guidance from federal agencies who make the rules for workplace safety. But, small business has no official guidance and can rely solely on its own common sense and ethics. This is not always a good arrangement, especially with workers paranoid about loosing their jobs. Some other countries have made preemptive arrangements for addressing outbreaks, but it is unclear exactly what the US plans to enforce. Emphasis lies on the “recommendations” from agencies like CDC and HHS. It is left to states and counties for actions. Is this really practical when the issue has no borders or political divides? The paranoia in North America has spread like its own pandemic … economic paranoia, employment paranoia, inadequate health resources paranoia and now a tiny terrorist called ‘VIRUS’ has caused paranoia to become a PLURAL!
CDC: Swine flu viruses in U.S. and Mexico match
- Swine flu found in U.S. is same that killed at least 68 in Mexico
- The latest U.S. case of swine flu occurred in California, the CDC says
- Eight cases of the strain of swine flu have been confirmed in humans in the U.S.
Mexico warns no kissing as 81 dead in swine flu outbreak
- WHO warns countries to look out for “unusual” outbreaks of flu
- New Zealand quarantines 22 students, 3 teachers with swine flu symptoms
- Officials urge Mexicans to avoid large crowds, kissing in greeting
Mexico flu sparks worldwide fear
Mexican authorities have taken drastic measures to contain a new strain of the swine flu virus that has killed 81 and prompted fears of a global pandemic. People are being urged to stay at home and maintain strict personal hygiene. Many schools, public buildings, bars and restaurants have been closed.
- The Mexican government, which has faced criticism for what some see as a slow reaction to this outbreak, is now taking an increasingly hard line to try to contain the virus, says the BBC’s Stephen Gibbs in Mexico City. Public buildings have been closed and hundreds of public events suspended.
Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon has announced emergency measures to deal with the situation. They include powers to isolate individuals suspected of having the virus without fear of legal repercussions.
SNAP ANALYSIS-New swine flu likely widespread, experts say … the new strain of H1N1 has the potential to become a pandemic strain because it does spread easily and does cause serious disease.
Texas family quarantined after son contracts swine flu
- Texas teen is one of eight in U.S. diagnosed with swine flu
- Teen’s family ordered to stay away from public
- Dozens in Mexico have died from same strain of swine flu found in U.S.
- Officials say new strain has resisted some antiviral drugs
CDC Advisory: Swine Influenza (Flu)
State and Local Government Planning & Response Activities
Not all of the employment laws referenced apply to all employers or all employees, particularly state and local government agencies. For information on whether a particular employer or employee is covered by a law, please use the links provided for more detailed information. This information is not intended for federal agencies or federal employees – they should contact the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for guidance. As an overall matter, employers should be guided in their relationship with their employees not only by federal employment law, but by their own employee handbooks, manuals, and contracts (including bargaining agreements), and by any applicable state or local laws.
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- Human Resource Policies and Pandemic Planning
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Privacy Issues
- Workplace Benefits
- Workplace Safety and Health Issues
- Unemployment Issues and Financial Assistance
- Private Sector Workplace Issues
BossKitty has brought attention to the consequences US Health Care disparity before. The issue is, the uninsured become liabilities when a contagion erupts. Without medical attention, the US has guaranteed a health crisis that effects the whole population, except the privileged who can pay for treatments anywhere in the world. Check out previous opinions:
- Socialized Medicine, No Medicine or Someone Else’s Medicine
- Corrupt Medicine Is Not A Panacea – No Medicare Oversight
- Your Profile Determines Your Insurability But Inmates Get Free Health Care
- Purses Tighten, Small Business Suffers, Families Budget
- Humans, Economics and “the law of unintended consequences”
Austin American Statesman Update: School to close, other flu precautions recommended
The Texas Department of State Health Services has issued the following news release:
The Texas Department of State Health Services announced today that Byron Steele High School in Cibolo will temporarily close effective immediately as public health and school officials work to keep swine influenza from spreading.
Swine flu was confirmed earlier this month in two students from the school, and a third student is listed as a probable case with confirmatory lab test results pending. The original two have recovered, and the third is recovering. The school is part of the Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District in Guadalupe County near San Antonio.
This is a welcome development to protect children. School systems are connected with health consequences for students and teachers. It will be interesting to see how many school districts across the country will follow suit, at least the ones in high risk areas. But, what about crowded places like work, malls, grocery stores and public events. This will have its own economic impact across the country. There is no ONE to blame for this short term crisis, but there is always that ignorance and greed that paved the way to where we find ourselves today.
26 April 2009 — WHO is coordinating the global response to human cases of swine influenza A (H1N1) and monitoring the corresponding threat of an influenza pandemic.
Information on swine influenza27 April 2009 — The Emergency Committee, confirmed outbreaks of A/H1N1 swine influenza in the United States of America, Mexico, and Canada. The Committee also considered reports of possible spread to additional countries. On the advice of the Committee, the WHO Director-General has raised the level of influenza pandemic alert from the current phase 3 to phase 4. 
In nature, influenza viruses circulate continuously among animals, especially birds. Even though such viruses might theoretically develop into pandemic viruses, in Phase 1 no viruses circulating among animals have been reported to cause infections in humans.
In Phase 2 an animal influenza virus circulating among domesticated or wild animals is known to have caused infection in humans, and is therefore considered a potential pandemic threat.
In Phase 3, an animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus has caused sporadic cases or small clusters of disease in people, but has not resulted in human-to-human transmission sufficient to sustain community-level outbreaks. Limited human-to-human transmission may occur under some circumstances, for example, when there is close contact between an infected person and an unprotected caregiver. However, limited transmission under such restricted circumstances does not indicate that the virus has gained the level of transmissibility among humans necessary to cause a pandemic.
Phase 4 is characterized by verified human-to-human transmission of an animal or human-animal influenza reassortant virus able to cause “community-level outbreaks.” The ability to cause sustained disease outbreaks in a community marks a significant upwards shift in the risk for a pandemic. Any country that suspects or has verified such an event should urgently consult with WHO so that the situation can be jointly assessed and a decision made by the affected country if implementation of a rapid pandemic containment operation is warranted. Phase 4 indicates a significant increase in risk of a pandemic but does not necessarily mean that a pandemic is a forgone conclusion.
Phase 5 is characterized by human-to-human spread of the virus into at least two countries in one WHO region. While most countries will not be affected at this stage, the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short.
Phase 6, the pandemic phase, is characterized by community level outbreaks in at least one other country in a different WHO region in addition to the criteria defined in Phase 5. Designation of this phase will indicate that a global pandemic is under way.
During the post-peak period, pandemic disease levels in most countries with adequate surveillance will have dropped below peak observed levels. The post-peak period signifies that pandemic activity appears to be decreasing; however, it is uncertain if additional waves will occur and countries will need to be prepared for a second wave.
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April 26th, 2009 at 10:35 pm
Although I have a cold, I do not plan to stay home tomorrow. I’d love to but oh well. I’m at the end of my cold so if I have already shared my germs on Friday.
April 27th, 2009 at 7:48 pm
RuthDFW:
Good luck. I hope you feel better.
There will be many who go to work ill because sick pay is not an option.
April 29th, 2009 at 1:21 pm
I have real questions about this swine flu. I’m wondering how there can suddenly be a possible pandemic at the tail end of flu season. I’ve looked around and haven’t found any explanation. I’m hoping that this is just another fear monger event and not a real crisis. We all know how much those feckless appaRATchiks in washingtOOn love to keep the sheeple scared at their own shadows, so as to free the power elite to do their thieving. Have you heard that rumsfeld holds a bunch of stock in the company that owns the intellectual rights to that crap tamiflu? There’s money to be made from this and the usual suspects are raking it in as usual…
The scientifically impossible I do right away
The spiritually miraculous takes a bit longer
April 30th, 2009 at 10:04 pm
Sometimes I draw odd parallels.
http://www.france24.com/en/20090418-superweed-explosion-threatens-monsanto-heartlands-genetically-modified-US-crops
MRSAs are increasing after a campaign promoting public handwashing with germicides.
When I had to take the essentials of sanitation to work in the dairy industry, we were told it was futile to attempt to sanitize without cleansing. In other words, you couldn’t disinfect a contaminated field. Attempting to do so would CULTURE GERMICIDE RESISTANT BACTERIA.
In Iraq, the arrival of American forces was concurrent with the destruction of government. Shortly after, infrastructure providing power, clean water, sanitation and medical care was all bitched. The billions poured into Iraq arrived as ‘no-bid’ contracts for services that were not delivered. Funny how the permanent bases that were supposedly deliberately excluded from ‘Defense’ funding were build anyway.( Defense is another lie : War is honest description. What happens when the ‘enemy’ is invaded and has no defense…rather like Palestine ? )
You’ve noted the contamination of groundwater supplies from CAFOs in the Mississippi River Basin yourself in a wonderful article you should have placed on permanent display.
People have sometimes worried about ‘germ warfare’. Dysfunctional policies serve as well.
My ‘treatise’ on water was an all-too-scary group of links about an immediate necessity of life : a powerful ‘persuader’.http://my.opera.com/oldephartte/blog/27-feb-end-of-an-era
I see article after article detailing Monsanto malfeasance, pharmacological nightmare, denial of organic culture and medicine, monoculture, loss of biodiversity, warming oceans with rising acidity and reduced flow, loss of plankton and dead zones caused by agricultural chemicals in the oceans…and little sign people are connecting the dots even at environmental group sites !
Even the marijuana fiasco is a coverup for black ops being financed by government drug racketeering, denial of a cheap effective painkiller which cleanses the soil of toxins as it grows ! Not to mention hemp should replace cotton and plastics for many applications, including clothing. But damn…it’s a weed adapted to local conditions ! That’s no solution for monopolists, any more than the Indians’ herds of buffalo were.
I’ve got an absolute shitload of stuff on my Links page, guys. Shame for it to go to waste.
May 1st, 2009 at 6:42 am
OK Opit, “Attempting to do so would CULTURE GERMICIDE RESISTANT BACTERIA.” That’s the head of the nail, and you just hit it. We are still creating our own enemies. If there is an Armageddon, it is one of our own making, a self-fulfilling death wish. What these extremists are promoting is the concept that god is so ashamed of creation, that it must be wiped out and tried again, somewhere else.
Short term thinking and immediate gratification are the most dangerous qualities? of today’s “want it now” society. I am drawn back to that old hippie paperback, a must re-read, ‘Zen, And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance’. Maybe Zen can be accused of focusing on the moment, but remember that Zen does not want that moment to be wasted on ‘immediate trivials’ that has no positive impact on the future. This book made a swipe at the ‘throw away, superficial’ culture we have devolved in to. This premise is coming home to bite us now. We live the results of that non-thinking. I just hope there are enough brain cells among today’s population to make a difference trying to recover.
May 1st, 2009 at 6:45 am
Clapso, I agree it is a conspiracy, but one of ignorance. That ignorance is what people elect, ignorance is what they get, and then ignorantly, they think they have someone to blame.
May 1st, 2009 at 10:41 am
Education is overseen by the state : including the study of history. Media are controlled by a few companies. The Pentagon oversees reporting of American military activities abroad. Spying on the people is institutionalized.Government even supports certain religious organizations ‘charity’ and ‘aid’ efforts : an opportunity for proselytization.
What would it take for you to recognize this as all of a piece ?
May 1st, 2009 at 7:18 pm
Oh now, Opit. You know how I’ve moaned and groaned (to no avail) about the selective history we’re all fed. That is one of my anxiety buttons. Don’t get me started. Of course, it’s “all of a piece”. No government is innocent. At least once the brainwashing is over, we have the opportunity to find out ‘the rest of the story’ buried among the weeds. It takes a lot of effort. Most people could care less because they can’t see a connection between their current gripes and their causes. My favorite ’cause and effect’ issue.
May 1st, 2009 at 7:31 pm
Dad 2059 quips on this and related topics. We’re on about The Singularity and related items at the moment…have been for a while. http://dad2059.wordpress.com/
It’s not as if you were the only one to gripe about selective history and anti-scientific schooling/church. I have to admit, Texas grows a bumper crop of rebels against an equal lot of the stupids.
I haven’t checked Doug’s Darkworld on WordPress for quite a while or Millard Fillmore’s Bathtub. Fellow travelers, as I recall.
May 2nd, 2009 at 12:58 am
http://cryptogon.com/?p=8350
Flying pigs, Tamilflu and factory farms Global research.ca
May 2nd, 2009 at 4:01 pm
Love that site, linked it on TruthHugger
May 5th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
Well, it does seem that the hamthrax has come and gone. Really, this was a panic the sheeple item and nothing more…
The scientifically impossible I do right away
The spiritually miraculous takes a bit longer
May 5th, 2009 at 8:00 pm
You’re sorta right Clapso. But I picture this just a dry run for the real thing in the next few years … the up-side is that it got the whole world’s attention focused on One Threat! Kinda like a Martian Invasion … War of the flying swine …
Where’s Orson when you need him?
May 5th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
My alter ego, maybe ? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Onkr65j5T1A
May 6th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
hehehehe, the power elite are becoming so good at their fear mongering. They now have several panics simmering on the back burner, in case the sheeple figure out the panic of the day is bullshit!
In the mean time the status quo of pig rich getting richer, while the rest of us are further impoverished continues…
The scientifically impossible I do right away
The spiritually miraculous takes a bit longer
May 7th, 2009 at 12:03 am
The prof came through.
http://dandelionsalad.wordpress.com/2009/05/06/michel-chossudovsky-swine-flu-pandemic-where-did-it-come-from/
Meantime real problems escape notice
http://www.culturechange.org/cms/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=336&Itemid=1
That was stimulated by http://current.com/items/90025337_prospecting-for-uranium-beginning-in-grand-canyon.htm
May 7th, 2009 at 6:34 am
Clapso, fear mongering is how the controllers control. You have to tailor your message to your audience … the Pied Piper lesson applies here. You don’t tell the rats where you’re taking them, duh.
EWE! Yucky graphic pictures on dandelionsalad do make a point that cannot be sanitized enough for media consumption. Think I’ll skip the bacon this morning. Swine, Bird, Asian, Spanish, Type A,B,C, to the H series etc. are just mutations of each other. Whichever mutation is popular at the moment, the media misleads. In depth presentation is not sexy enough. Scary possibilities get better ratings. Not to demean the real hazard, but dumbing down a story and promoting panic must serve a different purpose. Communication with a complacent public must require sensationalism to remind them what they should have learned in elementary school.
About the Uranium mining, isn’t US history saturated with sacrificing indigenous people to modern technology status quo?
BTW, I keep having to rescue you from moderation/spam jail … Wordpress.org, where BlueBloggin lives, must be having difficulty remembering who you are. I have to kudo Wordpress.com where TruthHugger lives. I don’t find you in jail over there.
May 8th, 2009 at 9:43 am
Isn’t that interesting. I wonder if that isn’t part and parcel of being summarily ejected from WP blogging and registration rejected. There are occasional times when filters reject comments too. I’m just too pigheaded to pretend I’m someone else.
May 8th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
So, does that mean you are ‘persona non opit’? That’s a feather in your hat. Be proud. Then again, maybe it was just deodorant failure …
May 8th, 2009 at 11:21 pm
It did my ’street cred’ wonders with at least one blogger – but blew off an awful pile of contacts.
Blogging’s not come back to old page views : but I’m submitting off my own site. Just today a gang at Care2 emailed an idea for a group news promotion. That seems rather silly actually – defeats the purpose of ratings. Fun that it happened just before I hit the Front Page again I suppose.
May 15th, 2009 at 9:05 am
I never bid believe in that one.
November 18th, 2009 at 6:20 am
I had the flu, called in sick for 2 days, had a dr note and still got fired!