Swine Flu - Concerns Traveling by Rail?

[ALC Rail Writer]

Well, Biden done gone and opened his lips to tell folks to stay off of airplanes and subways. Wanna bet that Amtrak travel will be down as well?

It's Biden. His lips have a tendency to leave his brain behind in the dust.

Common sense people-- there are only a few hundred confirmed cases in New York, with millions of people in the city... and we haven't become a plague city yet!

 

[SideshowMatt]

I think the media has just blown this wayyyy out. The only reason people died in Mexico is because they do not have good health care. Just wash you hands, try to stay away from people who are coughing, and you will be fine.

Even if you do get it, it is just like the regular flu. About a week down and you'll be back on your feet (unless of course you have a weak immune system)

 

[jis]

Common sense people-- there are only a few hundred confirmed cases in New York, with millions of people in the city... and we haven't become a plague city yet!

I bet more people are suffering from an attack of the normal everyday variety of flu in New York than the Influenza A (H1N1) variety. It is also not clear that the mortality rate from the Influenza A (H1N1) is significantly different from that of other varieties yet. All of that might change. But it would be nice if the media could give us information about infection rates and mortality rates of your everyday garden variety flu just to provide some comparison, so that one can arrive at better judgment about these sorts of things.

According to the WHO briefing of today there are 257 confirmed cases worldwide so far with 8 confirmed fatalities. Surprisingly US has more confirmed cases than Mexico, which stems most likely from delay in getting lab confirmation for many potential cases in Mexico. So those numbers will probably climb even if the thing does not spread any more dramatically.

 

[PetalumaLoco]

From the LA Times.

"Scientists see this flu strain as relatively mild"

 

[the_traveler]

I'm not trying to pick on any specific groups, but there has been talk on radio talk shows that illegal aliens who have "flu-like symptoms" that may or may not be swine flu may not see a doctor or go to the hospital to be tested - for fear of having to answer too many questions. I still am not overly concerned about it.

True, you could stay in your house all day, but I bet you'll get hungry in a few weeks and have to go outside and get some food or go to work or get the mail - or even to get some fresh air! Really, just as long as you practice proper hygiene, you'll be fine.

I always get a chuckle when I see TV reporters reporting from _____ and many people are walking around with masks - but the reporters do not! That shows that basic things are enough. I don't think they would volunteer to do that if it was not enough. Even reporters in war areas have some kind of protection on.

 

[PetalumaLoco]

Oh no, it's mutated!

BBC News: "...mutation of the H1N1 virus into new strain: H1Z1."

EU quarantines London in flu panic

 

[sunchaser]

Oh no, it's mutated!
BBC News: "...mutation of the H1N1 virus into new strain: H1Z1."

EU quarantines London in flu panic

This must be a 'joke page' please compare with the real one.

Suspect page-

http://bouncewith.me.uk/europe/8027043.htm

Real one-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/default.stm

 

[sechs]

Maybe the fact that, of influenza's eight genes, none has a name starting with "z" was a dead give away....

 

[sunchaser]

Maybe the fact that, of influenza's eight genes, none has a name starting with "z" was a dead give away....

You never know if someone may fall for it anyway. When I started reading, I started laughing. Especially about the zombie part. Great stuff. Not a virologist or a genome specialist, so I didn't know how many jeans the pig virus has.

 

[PetalumaLoco]

Oh no, it's mutated!
BBC News: "...mutation of the H1N1 virus into new strain: H1Z1."

EU quarantines London in flu panic

This must be a 'joke page' please compare with the real one.

Suspect page-

http://bouncewith.me.uk/europe/8027043.htm

Real one-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/default.stm

Ya got me!

 

[sunchaser]

Oh no, it's mutated!
BBC News: "...mutation of the H1N1 virus into new strain: H1Z1."

EU quarantines London in flu panic

This must be a 'joke page' please compare with the real one.

Suspect page-

http://bouncewith.me.uk/europe/8027043.htm

Real one-

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/default.stm

Ya got me!

Wasn't trying to spoil your fun! We call it trout flu at home. Hope it doesn't mess up our travel plans.

 

[-Jamie-]

Is it bad if I'm hoping some people booked on our train panic and cancel their roomette reservations so the rooms will drop back to the lower bucket? lol

 

[Long Train Runnin']

Is it bad if I'm hoping some people booked on our train panic and cancel their roomette reservations so the rooms will drop back to the lower bucket? lol

:lol: A bad thing but yet a good thing :lol:

 

[Bigval109]

Is it bad if I'm hoping some people booked on our train panic and cancel their roomette reservations so the rooms will drop back to the lower bucket? lol

Sorry buddy but I'm not scared and I'm still going. I leave on next friday. Plus I'm armed with a can of lysol and oust to spray things down a bit. Hey I waited to long and I'm ready to ride. California here I come!

 

[Guest]

Is it bad if I'm hoping some people booked on our train panic and cancel their roomette reservations so the rooms will drop back to the lower bucket? lol

I don't think so. Their roomettes will go up for re-sale at the original price; could be lowest bucket or could be highest bucket, depending on what they paid.

 

[sunchaser]

Is it bad if I'm hoping some people booked on our train panic and cancel their roomette reservations so the rooms will drop back to the lower bucket? lol

Sorry buddy but I'm not scared and I'm still going. I leave on next friday. Plus I'm armed with a can of lysol and oust to spray things down a bit. Hey I waited to long and I'm ready to ride. California here I come!

I just checked the Zephyr today for the day we leave & all the bedrooms were gone. Roomettes still avail, though. Still pretty cheap, too.

 

[chuljin]

I just noticed (though it could have been there a few days already: 2009 FLU INFO: Amtrak Response.

Last night on 785 in my usual way, the Conductor made an announcement like (paraphrasing):

(the usual Conductor announcements) ...and we want to ask everyone's help in keeping Amtrak trains a safe and healthy place for all passengers and crew: before visiting the cafe car, and after each visit to the restroom, please wash your hands thoroughly.

So Amtrak is not particularly panicking, it seems, just reminding us of the common sense we learned as youngsters.

 

[-Jamie-]

Is it bad if I'm hoping some people booked on our train panic and cancel their roomette reservations so the rooms will drop back to the lower bucket? lol

Sorry buddy but I'm not scared and I'm still going. I leave on next friday. Plus I'm armed with a can of lysol and oust to spray things down a bit. Hey I waited to long and I'm ready to ride. California here I come!

Well you're not on my train so go right ahead.

I don't think so. Their roomettes will go up for re-sale at the original price; could be lowest bucket or could be highest bucket, depending on what they paid.

Hope so. We missed getting a lower bucket by 1 week. Had to pay $399 for each roomette instead of $134 the week before.