Google map tracks the flu...

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I wonder what the CDC definition of a 'crowd' is.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Update: I am still alive.

...the effigy worked.

Thanks, hippie friend.

You're welcome. I also hugged a tree for you on Arbor Day. No charge.

I wonder what the CDC definition of a 'crowd' is.

I don't know, but I've got to drive into LA for work soon and I'm going to buy some masks. I don't care how silly I look.

[Ms. Squirrel 11]

Three people in Germany now as well. Only suspects so far though.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Three people in Germany now as well. Only suspects so far though.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

I don't know, but I've got to drive into LA for work soon and I'm going to buy some masks. I don't care how silly I look.

FWIW I drove in to work through a crowded mini-downtown area and a lot of wooded back streets with people walking and running and not one mask.

Don't be the freak, Steven.

[Ms. Squirrel 11]

Yeah well, I don't know. I guess everyone with a feverish cold now thinks it's swine flu.

The situation is bad though and I am glad Pedro is not flying to Mexico.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

I don't know, but I've got to drive into LA for work soon and I'm going to buy some masks. I don't care how silly I look.

FWIW I drove in to work through a crowded mini-downtown area and a lot of wooded back streets with people walking and running and not one mask.

Don't be the freak, Steven.

It's ok, I work with freaks in a freaky town.

[Ms. Squirrel 11]

Steven, you are from Laguna Beach, right? I went on vacation there once and it was lovely.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Steven, you are from Laguna Beach, right? I went on vacation there once and it was lovely.

The land of fruits and nuts!

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Steven, you are from Laguna Beach, right? I went on vacation there once and it was lovely.

I was living there for awhile but have since moved. ...very nice, but the tourism makes getting in and out of the coastal town nearly impossible. Madame Cleo is now living there...but she doesn't want me as her neighbor.

Steven, you are from Laguna Beach, right? I went on vacation there once and it was lovely.

The land of fruits and nuts!

...and we watch our movies, one DVD at a time.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

...and we watch our movies, one DVD at a time.

Sounds gay.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

I went to CVS yesterday to get some shampoo and there was a very large line full of people bying face masks, they were limiting everyone to 2 boxes of 50 each!!!!

Face masks (unless they are rated against viral particles) won't help, unless your all ready sick (stops the coughing/sneezing from spreading out)...

That's not accurate...

From the CDC

Facemasks¹ should be considered for use by individuals who enter crowded settings, both to protect their nose and mouth from other people's coughs and to reduce the wearers' likelihood of coughing on others; the time spent in crowded settings should be as short as possible.

....

1 Unless otherwise specified, the term "facemasks" refers to disposable masks cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use as medical devices. This includes facemasks labeled as surgical, dental, medical procedure, isolation, or laser masks. Such facemasks have several designs. One type is affixed to the head with two ties, conforms to the face with the aid of a flexible adjustment for the nose bridge, and may be flat/pleated or duck-billed in shape. Another type of facemask is pre-molded, adheres to the head with a single elastic band, and has a flexible adjustment for the nose bridge. A third type is flat/pleated and affixes to the head with ear loops. Facemasks cleared by the FDA for use as medical devices have been determined to have specific levels of protection from penetration of blood and body fluids.

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/masks.htm

From that same link:

Information on the effectiveness of facemasks1 and respirators2 for the control of influenza in community settings is extremely limited. Thus, it is difficult to assess their potential effectiveness in controlling swine influenza A (H1N1) virus transmission in these settings.

1.Whenever possible, rather than relying on the use of facemasks or respirators, close contact with people who might be ill and being in crowded settings should be avoided.

Yes, it stops the spread of the "mucus/phelgm" particles, which carry the virus. (the coughing)

But it will not stop viral particles from travelling through the mask (if they are not in a mucus carrier, they can migrate through) unless rated as such. So they are not the "catch all" people think they are.

Virus particles are to small for off the shelf masks to trap them. Then you have the fit, facial hair, etc. to worry about.

The recommendations are in place to prevent the "spray" out of an infected person. (so you don't suck them in)

However, if your eyes get a blast of particles, you probably just got infected.

They are better than nothing I suppose, but the best bet is to stay away from crowds.

What is a facemask?

Facemasks are loose-fitting, disposable masks that cover the nose and mouth. These include products labeled as surgical, dental, medical procedure, isolation, and laser masks.

Facemasks help stop droplets from being spread by the person wearing them. They also keep splashes or sprays from reaching the mouth and nose of the person wearing the facemask. They are not designed to protect you against breathing in very small particles. Facemasks should be used once and then thrown away in the trash

CDC face masks

Edited April 27, 2009 by Bobby_Umit

[pedroh 21]

yea I wouldn't like a hippie like you living next to me

[Bobby+Umit 161]

I wonder what the CDC definition of a 'crowd' is.

More than 2 people

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

If Steven was my neighbor I'd dump all my soda cans on his yard, knowing he'd recycle them for me.