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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Pig Flu
Liane Rebeka Harrison, Photographer, Assistant
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Madison | WI | USA | Posted: 12:51 AM on 05.01.09 |
->> Anyone else canceling shoots, gigs, flights for fear of catching the bug?
I had a freelance gig lined up in a 'hot zone' & canceled for the first time ever.
I just can't risk getting sick right now.
Am I being a total Oscar Mayer Weiner or what? |
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Jamie Roper, Photographer
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Portland | OR | United States | Posted: 2:18 AM on 05.01.09 |
->> I think you mean "H1N1", and whether you're overreacting is yet to be seen...who knows? Stick to the safe side, if you can afford it.
Besides, i've always considered air travel to be too risky, regardless -- and any excuse to duck plane travel, i'm there. Me and Black Francis, great. |
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Darrell Miho, Photographer
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Los Angeles : SFO : HNL | CA | usa | Posted: 5:09 AM on 05.01.09 |
| ->> yes, you're being an oscar meyer weiner. if you're afraid of contracting the swine flu, then you should be worried about the regular flu, which kills over 30,000 people a year here in the US. |
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Stanley Leary, Photographer
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Roswell | GA | USA | Posted: 5:57 AM on 05.01.09 |
->> "The U.S. death toll surged fourfold from 16,263 in 1976-77 to 64,684 in 1998-99, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. Flu deaths now average about 36,000 a year, up from 20,000 in previous estimates, the CDC said."
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/01/07/health/main535605.shtml |
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Kevin Leas, Photographer, Assistant
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Rochester | NY | USA | Posted: 6:16 AM on 05.01.09 |
| ->> I'm taking a bus to NYC and back today to spend the night shooting in an arena full of thousands of people from all over the NY area. Am I worried? A little - but not much more than if I were doing the same thing during the heart of the regular cold & flu season any other year. I just don't want any version of the flu - blech. |
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Mark Peters, Photographer
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Highland | IL | USA | Posted: 7:24 AM on 05.01.09 |
->> Depends where the "hot zone" is.
Mexico City - no.
Anywhere in the US - yes. |
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Alan Look, Photographer
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Bloomington | IL | United States | Posted: 9:31 AM on 05.01.09 |
->> Liane, if your an oscar meyer weiner than some of the USA's largest companies must be full of cases of those dogs.
If your really worried, here's a way to check to see if you have the flu http://www.doihavetheswineflu.com/
Alan
www.alanlook.com
http://chimperscage.blogspot.com |
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Michael Granse, Photographer
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Urbana | IL | USA | Posted: 11:21 AM on 05.01.09 |
->> Alcohol related automobile accidents in the United States kill roughly 16,000 people per year and injure more than 500,000. This is an average of 300 deaths and 10,000 injuries per week that can be directly linked to circumstances that are absolutely preventable.
The H1N1 Flu or "the flu formerly known as Swine Flu" currently has 300 confirmed cases worldwide according to CNN, and this does not mean that all of those who are infected will die. While this is certainly a problem, it does need to be kept in perspecitve.
Most of us will take a bigger risk of being killed in an accident on the way to a photo shoot than the risk that we take of getting H1N1 at the photo shoot. |
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Liane Rebeka Harrison, Photographer, Assistant
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Madison | WI | USA | Posted: 8:20 PM on 05.01.09 |
->> I'm not worried about dying. I'm worried that both my husband & I will be unemployed! With the wonderful new job I have, I don't want to risk losing my position. They have a strict attendance policy.
I get a flu shot every year because I am 'flu prone.' When I get sick, I'm sick for a least 2 weeks and it's never very pretty.
This is what I backed out of.
http://www.500festival.com/marathon/
I usually shoot the finish line grip & grins. Thousands of participants pass my lens in about 5 hours and they fly in from all over the world.
Last year I witnessed a lack of hand washing stations, several poop covered porta-potties, dog poop everywhere and I also observed the volunteers fill the water cups with a dirty utility hose.
These are just a few reasons why I decided to not attend this year. |
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Ian L. Sitren, Photographer
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Palm Springs | CA | USA | Posted: 8:47 PM on 05.01.09 |
->> Here you go, the preeminent authority on the subject.... George Carlin!
http://tinyurl.com/dx7o6l
Be advised, this is a George Carlin video from a live performance. Bad language and poor taste is guaranteed and often. It couldn't be better. |
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Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
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McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 8:50 PM on 05.01.09 |
| ->> It's not "pig flu", it's "Influenza A/H1N1". |
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Mike Anzaldi, Photographer
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Oak Park | IL | USA | Posted: 8:59 PM on 05.01.09 |
| ->> no jim, i think it's pig flu. |
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Wesley R. Bush, Photographer
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Nashville | TN | U.S. | Posted: 9:07 PM on 05.01.09 |
| ->> Did it cause as much concern back in 1976 when the swine flu spread at Fort Dix? For the life of me, I can't understand why governments and businesses are reacting this way. I really don't. |
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Alan Look, Photographer
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Bloomington | IL | United States | Posted: 9:15 PM on 05.01.09 |
| ->> Wesley - the same thought process exists with school systems in the winter when the cancel school because snow is forecast - keep in mind that being a weatherman is one of the few jobs you can have and keep and be wrong most of the time. |
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Daniel Hayduk, Photographer
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Kelowna | BC | Canada | Posted: 10:13 PM on 05.01.09 |
->> I'd say that one would be more likely to get sick from the stress of worrying...
World-wide, common influenza kills 250,000 - 500,000 annually.
And an interesting article from the Sydney Morning Herald sticks out, and offers a different story from the same threat-level-raising source, the WHO.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/only-7-swine-flu-deaths-not-152-says-who-200904...
"Vivienne Allan, from WHO's patient safety program, said the body had confirmed that worldwide there had been just seven deaths - all in Mexico - and 79 confirmed cases of the disease."
cheers-
/daniel |
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Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
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McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 12:30 AM on 05.02.09 |
->> "i think it's pig flu"
Then you and the World Health Organization disagree. |
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Chuck Liddy, Photographer
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Durham | NC | USA | Posted: 9:19 AM on 05.02.09 |
| ->> I said this several days ago and now am being backed up by lots of health experts. This is totally a media driven event by mostly the cable news networks. It's a slow news cycle right now so they jumped on the "piggy flu". Panic, panic, panic....be afraid, typical television news. "BREAKING NEWS!!!! I'm reporting from Podunk, Texas right now and it's unreal. We have a terrible situation here, two people have sneezed today. Local officials have decided to evacuate the entire region because these sneezes really have them worried.....". Some other posters here made excellent points. Us (photographers) probably have a much better chance of getting injured or killed in a car wreck than catching and dying from this flu. I have to say if someone is so paranoid about contracting this from covering an event maybe they'd better rethink their choice of professions. |
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Kevin Leas, Photographer, Assistant
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Rochester | NY | USA | Posted: 1:51 PM on 05.02.09 |
| ->> Well, I'm glad to see the general public isn't reacting with the same paranoia that the media has been hyping. Walking around New York for several hours yesterday, I didn't see a single person wearing any type of mask. I heard lots and lots of wisecracks about the flu though, which makes me think that people are really taking this in stride and living their lives as usual. Refreshing! |
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Tony Sirgedas, Photographer
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Pierce County | WA | USA | Posted: 2:53 PM on 05.02.09 |
->> "Did it cause as much concern back in 1976 when the swine flu spread at Fort Dix? "
Yes, it caused such a concern that a general statement was issued that there would be a pandemic in the fall. More people died or were disabled from compications caused by the vaccine given at the time than the flu itself that year.
Just finished our EMS update for the fire department and medics here near Seattle. In simple terms, be reasonable. If you're around someone with a fever and cough then worry. but the numbers of "confirmed" cases (160 in US) is so low here in the US that you currently have very slim chances of contacting someone.
In a large crowd outdoors you more than likely will not run into many folks with the virus, especially an atheletic event where if someone were ill they would not be able to make it to the finish line for grips and grins.
Up to date info here...
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/ |
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Tony Sirgedas, Photographer
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Pierce County | WA | USA | Posted: 2:54 PM on 05.02.09 |
->> "If you're around someone with a fever and cough then worry."
I should have said take precautions, not worry. |
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Jack McCoy, Photographer
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Baldwin | NY | USA | Posted: 2:56 PM on 05.02.09 |
| ->> You backed out of working for Brightroom and they didn't give you a hard time? They must be relaxing over there. |
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Ron Erdrich, Photographer
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Abilene | TX | USA | Posted: 4:38 PM on 05.02.09 |
->> "...the numbers of "confirmed" cases (160 in US) is so low here in the US that you currently have very slim chances of contacting someone."
Unless, of course, you've been called in to work overtime on Saturday to specifically find the people in your area who have been diagnosed with Swine Flu and then you go to their homes to interview them. |
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Kevin Leas, Photographer, Assistant
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Rochester | NY | USA | Posted: 5:34 PM on 05.02.09 |
| ->> Ron - assuming you're speaking about yourself (or someone else where you work), have you discussed the possibility of being given extra sick time if you do contract the flu? Regardless of the type of disease, if my paper wanted to send me into the home of someone who is infected with a contagious disease that leaves people leveled for days, I'd be looking for some extra time off if I got sick as a result of the assignment. |
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Chuck Steenburgh, Photographer
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Lexington | VA | USA | Posted: 7:05 PM on 05.02.09 |
->> Is a job really that wonderful if they fire you for getting the flu?
"For the life of me, I can't understand why governments and businesses are reacting this way. I really don't."
Chuck is right. Government is largely acting this way because of the news media. It's also giving politicians on both sides plenty of grist for the mill: one side using it as a way to show how much better they were than the "previous administration" at responding to a public emergency, the other side trotting out the "hermetically seal the border" hype. |
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Tony Sirgedas, Photographer
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Pierce County | WA | USA | Posted: 1:18 PM on 05.03.09 |
->> Ron, if you get such an assignment just use common sense precautions.
Put a mask on, the nose and mouth are the number 1 routes of exposure.It would not hurt to even ask your interviewee to wear one. Gloves would be appropriate also. If your emplyer is sending you in then they should provide the protection or be ready to pay for sick leave (document your exposure somehow with work).
Distance, somewhere in the CDC guidelines there is a 6 foot distance recommendation. The virus is somewhat heavy and expelled with coughing and sneezing. It will project out an average of 3 feet, so a 6 foot space is recommended. Also, don't do your interview in a closed up small room, go for the larger room of their home if that's where you will be.
Lastly, wash your hands and keep them from your face. The virus is easily killed, only lives outside the body for about three hours unlike hepatitis or some other other more robust ones. Alcahol based hand cleaners will also take care of it. If your operating your camera,at least wipe it down with a clean damp cloth, or an alcahol based cleaner to prevent contamination.
It's been interesting to watch the hype grow and grow, but the overall risk at this time still appears to be low. We'll see how long it stays that way.
As of this writing, 276 confirmed cases in the US. |
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Liane Rebeka Harrison, Photographer, Assistant
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Madison | WI | USA | Posted: 10:12 AM on 05.04.09 |
->> Everyone has such very different opinions/experiences.
I LOVE my job!!!! If you could retire @ 55/with retirement/benefits/pensions, you would be on board too!
I work at 'The Department of Revenue' now.
I agree with you all, one way or another. |
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Jim Colburn, Photo Editor, Photographer
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McAllen | TX | USA | Posted: 11:55 AM on 05.04.09 |
->> The time to worry will be in the fall when the next "normal" flu season starts.
True flu pandemics (like the one in 1918) present a mild version in the spring that effects 20-40 year-olds more than normal. That peters out quickly and lies dormant through the summer only to come back like gangbusters in the fall, killing millions. |
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