Chile Forum

So sorry Clint. You are right. I'm humbled as I am reminded of my previous posts which as you have pointed out don't give me any right to judge you. Forgive me, and peace, brother forum member. We all have something to contribute to this big old crazy soup of a world we live in.

Here is a link to an interesting TED Talk discussion by Laurie Garret, Pulitzer winnerwho studies global health and disease prevention. Her books include "The Coming Plague" and "Betrayal of Trust. This is her discussion about pandemics and why it's different now.

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/laur ... 8_flu.html

post script: http://www.ted.com has a collection of some of the most incredibly insightful, and visionary, and thoughtful short talks and seminars by the worlds foremost thinkers and inventors.

Ok, what is your opinion on the following situation?

Working on a platform in the Gulf of Mexico for 21 days, spent three days in Ciudad del Carmen (close to Cancun) before going on the platform. Have not been to Mexico city at all, flew directly from Houston. Going to spend one night in Carmen, before a flight out.

There are 19 days for a trip to Chile including travel days.

Option 1 is to fly through Mexico City, 2 hour layover, 1 day of travel to go to Chile and 1 day to return to Mexico.

Option 2 is to avoid Mexico City. Fly to USA, wait a day and catch overnight to Chile. 2.5 days to get there, 2.5 days to return.

You haven't seen your wife in Vina in a month, which option would you take? Would you avoid Mexico City because of the flu?

Don't think it will matter as long as you don't catch the flu in the process. If you catch the flu (any flu), and end up sick for the whole trip it is not going to matter one way or the other.

If checking luggage, take the route less likely to lose it. Whichever, take the normal precautions from catching any viral or bacterial infections.

I find it interesting how the swine flu outbreak has taken the back burner in the media, but the confirmed cases have exploded:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/09/health/09flu.html

It does not bleed, so it does not lead.

It seems it is possible that this might be a lab grown and escaped bug.

It is being put forward by a few very serious scientist, with serious credentials, by a mostly serious news source (bloomberg). So, far it seems it is being taking seriously by the scientific community including the CDC and the WHO. Seriously.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid= ... =worldwide

I am just back from the US today. Upon landing, all passengers were asked to fill out a form (with the flight information, seat number, sign of illness), and directed to walk through a scanning device. The procedure took less than a few seconds. There was no delay due to this scan.

A minor observation: on the flight out of Santiago last Friday, the plane was about 1/3 full. On the flight back last night, the plane was slightly less than half full. (normally, the flight out of Santiago on Friday night was always full in the past)

TP

It would appear I'm headed for a fairly infected area Friday.

http://www.jsonline.com/features/health/44751447.html

I hope I don't get the privilege to report what happens to you if you don't pass the scan in Santiago upon my return...

Chile seems to be so far Swine flu free. The longer Chile can put off wide spread outbreaks, I suspect the more time antibody exposure has time creep in to the population. Well, that is my arm chair medical guess anyway.

http://new.paho.org/hq/index.php?option ... temid=1167

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid= ... fer=europe

This report on the extended flu season in the U.S. I find to be a bit disturbing, and it mentions something like 50% of the cases are testing positive for H1N1 swine flu involvement. The CDC is guesstimating the number of cases is like 100,000 for H1N1, but are mostly not able to track it anymore.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 03651.html

The first link admin includes mentions "There was a new case in Peru. A 27 year-old woman of Peruvian nationality, who flew from New York to Lima in 9 May 2009." I was told by a Chilean friend that a number of Chileans were on the same flight and are now being tested.

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Chile's Health Minister says a 32-year old woman who had just arrived who from the Dominican Republic is the South American nation's first swine flu case.

Alvaro Erazo says the woman arrived early Saturday from the Dominican resort of Punta Cana, with a stopover in Panama.

Erazo told a news conference on Sunday the woman is recovering well and receiving treatment.

He says all the passengers who accompanied her on the Copa Airlines flight are being contacted to determine their condition. All will be asked to voluntarily remain confined to their homes for a few days.

Chile so far has checked 163 suspected cases of the flu with only one case confirmed.

The Dominican Republic so far has not confirmed any swine flu cases.

Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.