Chicagoland updates:

pookie2005

Ok, well I just googled the most recent updates and there are more than just one probable case in chicagoland, but none of these match my co-irkers wife's description.  However, I do live in one of these mentioned suburban counties so now I'm a tad nervous about that!    

Tests by the Illinois Department of Public Health found people who likely fell ill from the new flu virus in suburbs and city neighborhoods, including five in Chicago, one in DuPage County, two in Kane County and one in Lake County, ranging in age from 6 to 57.

The 12-year-old at Kilmer lives in Rogers Park, city officials said. The other probable city cases are: a 20-year-old man, also from Rogers Park; a 25-year-old man from Lake View; a 36-year-old woman from Woodlawn; a 35-year-old woman from Hegewisch.

The 20-year-old man from Rogers Park is a student at Loyola University Chicago, said city Health Department spokesman Tim Hadac.

The Loyola student, who lived on-campus in Fairfield Hall, has been home for several days and is doing well, according to the university's Web site.

At this time, authorities have informed the university that it can continue to conduct business as usual.

The Loyola student, Michael Hairsine, spoke from where he is recovering at his parents' home in St. Louis.

On Saturday, he said he thought he had allergies. On Sunday, he woke up with body aches. By Sunday night, his fever was so high his dorm roommates were icing him down. On Monday, he visited the campus clinic and was packed off to an emergency room, then to quarantine, and then back to his parents' home.

"I could hardly move. It was a chore to get out of bed. I felt absolutely terrible," Hairsine said. "I feel like it still is the flu, but it's not so terrible that people should be freaking out the way they are."

In the suburbs, the cases were: a 27-year-old man in Elmhurst; an 18-year-old man in Geneva, in Kane County; a 12-year-old girl in Kane County; and a 6-year-old girl in Lake County.

At this point, there are no school closures in Lake County as a result of the swine flu. The probable case reported Wednesday involves a school-age child, but county health officials said there is evidence the child had not yet enrolled in a local school.

summerbrideDC

I love that the kid who's actually HAD it has said, "um, not that big of a deal, folks. ?Calm down." ?LOL ?

I figure when 36,000 people a year die of your garden variety flu, I'm not going to get too worked up about a relative handful of people getting this strain of flu. ?Especially considering most of them end up being perfectly fine. ?

jessicaclare

I'm not saying its not wise to take precautions, but I still don't think I'd worry. Pretty much everyone (save the one toddler that passed, but I'm pretty sure there were other issues there) in the US is responding to treatment. Should you contract this virus, which is unlikely, you'd be fine. 

Even if there is one case in your county, you live in a large metropolitan area. The likelihood that you will come into contact with this person is very, very slim. Especially considering that people with confirmed cases are quarantined. 

AngelNDavid

I'm copying this response of my from your other post to make sure you see it.

I don't know if this will make you feel better about the toddler that died from the flu or not but...the child had other underlying health conditions that they believe contributed to his death. ?I live about an hour from Brownsville where the boy was staying when he was transported to Houston where he ultimately passed away. ?They aren't not specifying what other health problems to boy had for privacy reasons. ?Also the child actually lived in Mexico City and was in Brownsville visiting family. ?

I am like you and very paranoid about the flu right now b/c I live so close to the border and the fact I'm 36 weeks pregnant. ?Please remember EVERYONE in the US is responding to treatment. I think you should play it safe and work from home tomorrow and Friday and then reevaluate the situation. ?The Health Department may be behind in reporting numbers from your area. ?That is why I suggest staying home.?

pookie2005

AngelNDavid:

I'm copying this response of my from your other post to make sure you see it.

I don't know if this will make you feel better about the toddler that died from the flu or not but...the child had other underlying health conditions that they believe contributed to his death.  I live about an hour from Brownsville where the boy was staying when he was transported to Houston where he ultimately passed away.  They aren't not specifying what other health problems to boy had for privacy reasons.  Also the child actually lived in Mexico City and was in Brownsville visiting family.  

I am like you and very paranoid about the flu right now b/c I live so close to the border and the fact I'm 36 weeks pregnant.  Please remember EVERYONE in the US is responding to treatment. I think you should play it safe and work from home tomorrow and Friday and then reevaluate the situation.  The Health Department may be behind in reporting numbers from your area.  That is why I suggest staying home. 

That is so sad.

I do not have the option of working from home.  I'm either at work or I'm not.  I wish I could because I would in a heartbeat.  I will just go.  If this guy is there and looks like he's coming down with symptoms...I'm out of there.  I just won't risk being so close to it if I can help it.  I'm probably getting laid off in a couple months...most likely sooner anyway.

AngelNDavid

I agree the situation is definitely sad. ?Just remember to wash your hands as much as possible and stay away from your coworker. ?I hope his wife doesn't have it or him. ?

?Good luck tomorrow. I'm sorry to hear you may be getting laid off too.?

RCH151

uggggggggg, I live about 3 neighborhoods away from Rogers Park.....stay away swineflu!