- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Trying to Get Pregnant
050507BRIDE
member
Am I the only one scared of the swine flu?
050507BRIDE
member
I live in a border town with Mexico and people have started panicking here. Everybody is talking about the virus. Grocery stores and pharmacies are out of hand sanitizers and face masks. People are already stocking up on food and water. With so many Mexicans crossing the border every day through here, its really getting pretty scary.
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Am I the only one scared of the swine flu?
If I lived where you did, I would be more worried about catching something, your odds are higher no matter how many times you wash your hands a day.
For me, I'm not worried. I'm pretty far removed from it (for now), and I'm pretty alone most days everyday - so my chances are low to begin with. I always cleaned my desk off once a week with wipes, now I'm doing it twice a week instead. (I don't know anything about the cleaning people that come in my office nightly to take the trash.)
And no one is in my house but me and my husband, so I keep cleaning like normal there!
If I were where you are I would probably be worried but Im not that worried. If I worried about everything the news tells me to worry about, I'd be in a mental house by now.
Cooper+Evie=Soulmates
I would only be concerned if I were caring for small children. As a healthy adult, you have control over your handwashing/face touching etc to prevent getting the flu, and even if you do, it shouldn't be life threatening...just suckville for a day or two.
I am thinking about getting some powdered Gaterade at the store, just in case DH or I get sick, but I think it's pretty unlikely.
I'm with ya!
The little boy that died today was staying at Brownsville. That's very close to where you live.
Ditto!
Am I the only one that found this sort of offensive?
Anyway, to answer your question, nah. Not really. Like pp said, I think the media blows things way out of proportion.
it was definitely not PC, thats for sure....
I have to admit that I am a little nervous. They just closed some schools near my parents house. It is kinda scary. I just had a customer come in who was in cancun im like ahh!
I don't think this is offensive because everyone so far that has been infected with the swine flu has been to Mexico or is Mexican. Plus, I've read that many people from Mexico are coming over here to escape the flu.
That's interesting. I'm in NYC where there are the most US cases reported and people are totally chill about it (that I've seen).
I'm sort of worried about it. Since it seems to be a little more virulent than the average flu strain, I won't be forgetting to wash my hands, that's for sure.
I saw a couple people with Masks on in the store.....which is silly because the closest case to us is 3 or 4 hours away! but, some people are really scared.....i guess....
Can I ask why you found it offensive? Mexican isn't a racial slur and there ARE a lot of Mexicans that cross the border down here. They come over to shop all the time. I can't go to the grocery store without at least 40% of the parking lot having Mexico plates.
and FWIW I am Mexican
I hadn't heard anything about that. Thank you for letting me know I will look into it now.
I'm not really sure, to be honest. I can't quite put my finger on it. I think it was just the way I read it.
And I'm not Mexican, FWIW.
True. I know you didn't mean anything by it. I just read it differently than what you had meant, I'm sure.
The baby who died in Texas this morning was from Mexico and had come across the border for medical attention.
To the OP, one of the girls on our local board is working at a hospital in Laredo, and here's what she had to say:
Well, I'm in Laredo, of all places. We have CDC and WHO reps down here. The media is way over playing it. All they told us was the masks don't really do much, wash your hands as normal. Only 50 cases have been 100% confirmed in the US. 2 people have died, 1 infant and 1 50 yr old woman who had an underlying immune disease. These are the same people who would be at risk from dying of any flu strain.
They are working on a vaccine, but they said right now it makes test subjects (who the test subjects are I have no idea) so sick they're actually sicker than they would be with the swine flu. They're closing school just because they don't want it to get to children who are already sickly or could bring it home to people who are. It's precautionary and right now really be cautious yes, but worse than any other flu...no.
this. I live in San Diego, and nobody seems to be freaking out .. The media likes to blow things up using their scare tactics, but hey - the factories making the face masks are loving it! Until the President tells me to put a mask on when I go outside, I won't worry
Thank you for that info from the lady on your home board.
Before I moved to TX, I probably would've braced a little at the comment, but frankly, this is it. Broadly calling anyone somewhat resembling a Latino/a a "Mexican" = offensive. Calling a Latino/a from Mexico a "Mexican" is, well, what else are you supposed to say?
Living on the border, I think you've got license to assume country of origin.
First of all, I never mentioned immigrants. I was talking about Mexican citizens that cross the border back and forth every day. I'm not blaming the flu on Mexico, but it is a fact that so far all of the people sick are from Mexico or have traveled to Mexico recently.