On Monday, the World Health Organization raised its pandemic alert level in response to an outbreak of swine flu in Mexico, and reports of dozens of cases in the United States.
From 5 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Dr. Cara Steinkeler of Kaiser-Permanente will be answering questions from the KGW.com audience about the swine flu outbreak.
To submit a question, simply click on and submit a "comment."
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Hi Doctor:
I have an illness with the symptoms like swine flu, and I've been extremely ill for at least two weeks. When I get a swab taken, it will be four weeks to get confirmation. So, how do we know if the swine flu is in Oregon or not???? I've never been this sick before.
Dr. Steinkeler:
People with flu symptoms (high fever, headache, cough, sore throat, muscle aches) should stay home from work and see their doctor if symptoms persist. It is true that the usual "rapid flu test" is used to diagnose influenza A. However, if any influenza virus is suspected, your doctor will do a respiratory swab for swine flu and influenza B, and will contact the local health department to arrange testing.
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Lynn said:
How concerned should someone with on or all of the following be? Asthma, diabetes & heart failure. Are there any extra precautions that can be taken?
Dr. Steinkeler:
People with chronic diseases should have had a flu shot this winter, but it will not protect them from swine flu. Swine flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions, but there are no additional recommendations to help prevent flu beyond those already mentioned.
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Maryellen said:
My son flew in from Cancun Mexico last night.Should he be taking Tamiflu or wait to see if symptoms occur?
Dr. Steinkeler:
Tamiflu (oseltamivir) is not recommended unless a case of flu (human or swine!) is confirmed with a rapid influenza test. So, in the absence of symptoms, Tamiflu is not indicated.
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Gina said:
I will be getting a steriod/lidocaine injection in my back on Friday. will that make my immune system not as strong? considering that this flu could be hitting Oregon anytime... Thanks! Gina
Dr. Steinkeler:
Some of the steroid in an epidural or joint injection can be absorbed into your system, however the amount is minimal and would not be enough to suppress an otherwise healthy immune system. Therefore your planned injection should not put you at greater risk for getting a flu virus.
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Dennis said:
We are scheduled to go to Nuevo (Puerto) Vallarta with my inlaws and 2 kids - age 2 and 4. Should we be concerned or not go?
Would you take your family?
Dr. Steinkeler:
Check the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention website for the latest update. I believe that they have recommended avoiding non-essential travel to Mexico.
If you go, take greater precaution with hand washing (carry some alcohol-based hand gel with you, and use it frequently if you don't have access to soap and clean water). If you or your family have specific health issues, call your doctor or a travel clinic for advice.
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Becky said:
Could you tell me if a mask really works? If so, what should someone buy? What type?
Dr. Steinkeler:
Viruses spread in three ways:
Respiratory droplets (coughing, sneezing)
Direct contact (hand touches infected surface, then touches nose,mouth, or eyes)
Blood (not a common means of transmitting influenza)
Whether or not a mask is effective at blocking respiratory droplets depends on the size of the virus particles and the quality of the mask. We are not certain how effective routinely available masks are at preventing the spread of swine flu.
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Dennis said:
How would a virus of this type be formed in nature? Is this even possible to have a Swine/Avian/Human virus occur naturally?
Dr. Steinkeler:
Some viruses are specific to a certain species (monkeys, birds, pigs) and cannot spread to other species. Other viruses can be shared between species. In the past, swine viruses have been transmitted to humans. Genetic things like this occur frequently in nature.
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Frank said:
What precautions should you take to reduce your chances of getting the swine flu? Does it matter whether you got a flu shot this winter??
Dr. Steinkeler:
Since you do not live in an area of the country with confirmed cases of swine flu, there is not much that you should do differently. Just wash your hands often and avoid touching your mouth or nose, as this is how viruses spread. The flu shot you got this winter will not protect you from swine flu.
What precautions should you take to reduce your chances of getting the swine flu? Does it matter whether you got a flu shot this winter??
How would a virus of this type be formed in nature? Is this even possible to have a Swine/Avian/Human virus occur naturally?
Could you tell me if a mask really works? If so, what should someone buy? What type?
I will be getting a steriod/lidocaine injection in my back on Friday. will that make my immune system not as strong? considering that this flu could be hitting Oregon anytime... Thanks! Gina
We are scheduled to go to Nuevo (Puerto) Vallarta with my inlaws and 2 kids - age 2 and 4. Should we be concerned or not go?
Would you take your family?
How concerned should someone with heart failure, diabetes and asthma be? Are there extra precautions someone with one, some or all of these conditions take?
How concerned should someone with on or all of the following be? Asthma, diabetes & heart failure. (I happen to have all three) Are there any extra precautions that can be taken?
Does the mask really stop you from getting the Swine flu? Does the ful affect a certain raise more than others?
Does the mask really stop you from getting the Swine flu? Does the ful affect a certain raise more than others?
I was on vacation last week in Mazatlan, Mx. We return on Sat., 25th at approx. 6:30. We went through customs in Seattle - arrived in Portland at 9:30, we flew Alaska Airlines.
Yesterday afternoon I began getting ill around 3:00 pm. Flu like ysteoms - aches. fever, chills. By 6:00 pm, I had a temperture of 100, by 9:00 it was 101. I called my doctor but she seemed to think that I did not have anything to worry about. My fever broke early this morning. I am now experiencing diarrhea, headache. Since I work for a school district in western Wasnington Country, I stayed home from worked today.
My question is...what should I expect. When should I return to work? Could I have possibly contacted the virus?
Please keep this email confidential.
I am currently under going chemotherapy, should I be concerned about this flu? What extra precautions should I take?
My son flew in from Cancun Mexico last night.Should he be taking Tamiflu or wait to see if symptoms occur?
Should we avoid going pharmacies and to non-essential doctor appointments to limit the possibility of exposure?
How long does it take to get test results back?
Planning (and have paid for) a trip to a resort in Cancun in two weeks with 2 (healthy) 13=year-olds. We don't plan on leaving the resort area, and will only drink bottled water and will take alcohol wipes, etc.
I am aware of the warnings, but don't think we can get a refund this late.
Would YOU go? Or is this serious enough that you honestly would cancel the trip, and try to recoup something from the travel agent?
As a person with some liver problems (currently on meds) and other health issues, should I be more worried about getting this virus?
Thank you.
Planning (and have paid for) a trip to a resort in Cancun in two weeks with 2 (healthy) 13=year-olds. We don't plan on leaving the resort area, and will only drink bottled water and will take alcohol wipes, etc.
I am aware of the warnings, but don't think we can get a refund this late.
Would YOU go? Or is this serious enough that you honestly would cancel the trip, and try to recoup something from the travel agent?
Hi Doctor:
I have an illness with the symptoms like swine flu, and I've been extremely ill for at least two weeks. When I get a swab taken, it will be four weeks to get confirmation. So, how do we know if the swine flu is in Oregon or not????
I've never been this sick before.
Claudia
Is this type of flu making people sicker, or is the possibility of complications higher, than with the more common types of flu? Or does it make you similarly sick but it's just easier to contract since we have no immunity for it.
If a person contracts this flu, are there any over the counter or prescription medications that will help relieve symptoms?
The NBC national new said people who contracted the flu eventually got pneumonia and then died. Is it beneficial at all to have gotten a pneumonia vaccine?
I am wondering about the spread of the Swine Flu to South America: When and how? I am planning a group trip to a Mission in Quito, Ecuador in mid-June.
Thanks for your response.
my husband is in home hospice care for terminal cancer. But he is planning to go to Northern california for a car gathering this week. Should he go, based on Swine flu only. Other than that he's o.k. to travel. Also, as his care giver (who isn't going) what can I do to keep healthy. My hhealth isn't all that great to begin with. Can we get vaccine? htanks, Judy
Two weeks ago I came down with all the swine flu symptoms but no fever or diarhea and vomiting. I am better now except for the dry hacking cough. Two doctor offices said it may just be allergy/ cold virus symptoms of which they have seen alot. Should I be tested and if so how long does it take to get the results and should I remain sequestered in the meantime?
If you were immunized for swine flu in 1976, is there anything to worry about with this new outbreak?
Hello Doctor,
What if you have already have these symptoms and have for several days? Will the Tamiflu still work?
Thank You.
Are they going to start shutting down schools when/if it comes to Oregon?
Can you cure it early?
Hello,
I recently returned from a trip in Mexico. We were there from 3/27 to 4/3. I was laid over in the Mexico City airport for about 6 1/2 hrs.
Weekend before last I became ill with an ear infection, then as the week went on had a very sore throat & runny nose, cough and nausia. However, I have not had a fever. Most of these symptoms are consistant with allergies which have been hitting so many of us in the Portland area.
In talking with my doctor, we determined that I left Mexico a week before the outbreak and didn't have symptoms until after the normal timeframe--So I shouldn't have the swine flu.
Did we do the math right?
I don't want to expose anyone -
thank you,
Chris
Is any truth to the rumor that OHSU is flying in Swine Flu patients for treatment. If so should we the public be made aware of this.
I was in the Army in Basic Training when the last outbreak occurred at Fort Dix, New Jersey in 1976.
Months later, when I arrived to my Army unit in Berlin Germany, we were administered the "newly developed Swine Flu" vaccine.
Would like to know, if I may be less suscesptible to contacting the latest H1N1 influenza strand?
Thank-you,
I was in the Army in Basic Training when the last outbreak occurred at Fort Dix, New Jersey in 1976.
Months later, when I arrived to my Army unit in Berlin Germany, we were administered the "newly developed Swine Flu" vaccine.
Would like to know, if I may be less suscesptible to contacting the latest H1N1 influenza strand?
Thank-you,
yes the swine f;lu is very bad if you get it..
please forgive me ,,but really in all honesty what dose everyone think of president obama and the way he is hanndleing the mortgage crisis?????????????i ythink not very well at all
what would happen to me if i thurt i had swine flu and was put on tamiflu .
I attended the H1N1 Pandemic Preparedness Summit yesterday in Salem, and they were very careful to not call the virus "Swine Flu" due to the significant negative impact that the moniker has had on the swine industry. I am surprised that I continue to hear it referred to as "Swine Flu" on KGW--even in the stories specifically talking about the H1N1 Summit!!
At the summit, they spent quite a bit of time talking about the important role the media will play in this (possible) upcoming pandemic, and how important it will be for the media to get accurate information out to the public.
If there's someone else I should also be addressing this to, please let me know--it may seem minor, but the speaker I heard from the Farm Bureau didn't think so!!
I just heard they are going to do immunizations at my daughters school.
Nothing to do with swine flu......Man ran over by dump truck? why was there no back up beepers to warn him? After hours club.......Why was it let go for 1 year and under investigation? who's really responsible and wasn't doing their job.
Today is Tuesday November 10. I am chronically ill. I have been waiting for Oprah's show all day. There has been a lot of devastating local news today. I understand that and I am very sympathetic to it. What I don't understand is why you have to repeat it over and over again all afternoon when at least 3 other local channels are doing the same thing. At least let us watch OPRAH! I watched you this morning and you have been repeating the same news since then, making a lot out of nothing. Do you think we are stupid!!!! Why don't you at least let us watch one good show of your regular progamming!! I am thoroughly disappointed in you. We don't about watching you as much as you think we do.