Aussie flu? Stay at home!

jiltloop

embraer170 wrote: »

And what do you do when your boss expects you to be at work unless you are in bed dying?

Tell your boss that you're in bed dying!

Kamili

Rayan Swift Photocopier wrote: »

Loads of people sneezing into their hands at Mass yesterday and then eagerly reaching out to everyone in the vicinity during the sign of peace. I became very interested in my Mass leaflet and unfortunately didn't see most of them!


Seriously, people need to use a bit of cop on when they're ill. Struggling into work coughing and spluttering and whining about your sore throat doesn't make you a brave soldier. It makes you a pain in the arse.

some clever priests out there in Northern Ireland has suspended the sign of peace due to the flu

https://www.joe.ie/life-style/catholtic-diocese-northern-ireland-suspended-sign-peace-due-flu-epidemic-611975

Captain Obvious

RandomName2 wrote: »

The arrival of Aussie flu has already caused several deaths. At a time when our hospitals are already under a lot of pressure, the last thing that is needed is a large influx of patients due to this strain of flu.

www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/health-news

Surely the best course of action that we, as a country, can do is to encourage people who are unfortunate enough to be suffering from this outbreak to stay at home, not go to work, or onto public transport? Same thing in relation to kids who are infected re: schools. To do otherwise is simply to encourage the spread of the disease, and inevitable loss of life.

You can encourage all you want but unless someone gets sick pay they are unlikely to miss a day of work for what they assume is the flu.

jiltloop

Skedaddle wrote: »

There are a few things going around at the moment :

1. A very bad cold that seems to last, and last and last with mostly upper respiratory symptoms - sinuses and postnatal drip.
2. Winter vomiting bug (norovirus)
3. At least two strains of flu.

You can get vaccinated against the flu and it’s wrll worth doing. With the other two all you can do is exercise caution with hand hygiene. The winter vomiting bug is AWFUL. I had it around New Years and had to sleep on the floor in the toilet and couldn’t eat for about 3 days! Even worse my entire household got it over Xmas.

Tips: avoid hand to mouth contact. Wash your hands - it survives alcohol wipes and gels. You need to actually wash for 20 seconds with soap and water.

If you do get it, clean your bathroom and anywhere you’ve thrown up with bleach based disinfectant. There is a flash with bleach that works well on floors and surfaces. The normal disinfectant and antibacterial sprays have no impact on it!

Also wash your clothes on a long cycle with a good dose of bio detergent. You need a wash long enough to actually remove stuff and at af least 40C. Towels and bed linen should go on 60+ if they can take it.

Also don’t shake hands with people if you have it.

Other than that:

Eat well, sleep well and keep yourself in good immune system form!

:eek::eek::eek:

Boom_Bap

I think that there is going to be a death in my office over the Aussie Flu.

If the dude that sits beside me coughs on me one more time, I'm going to murder him.

Skedaddle

jiltloop wrote: »

:eek::eek::eek:

Fixed that -- postnatal drip is a lot worse. Damn you iPhone and your artificial "intelligence" that doesn't understand context!

Postnasal!

SeaFields

Boom_Bap wrote: »

I think that there is going to be a death in my office over the Aussie Flu.

If the dude that sits beside me coughs on me one more time, I'm going to murder him.

I'm in the same boat today. Guy opposite me is smothered with a cold, coughing and spluttering. I can see the cold germs just floating over to me.

Boom_Bap

SeaFields wrote: »

I'm in the same boat today. Guy opposite me is smothered with a cold, coughing and spluttering. I can see the cold germs just floating over to me.

It's rotten isn't it. I'm at the stage where I can taste his cough. Rank.

Skedaddle

In Japan people actually wear face masks when THEY have colds to avoid spreading the germs.

titan18

Half the people think they have it and all they have is a cold.

danganabu

Boom_Bap wrote: »

I think that there is going to be a death in my office over the Aussie Flu.

If the dude that sits beside me coughs on me one more time, I'm going to murder him.

Same here, and when to fcuk then it become acceptable for someone to openly and very loudly blow there nose in the middle of an office, fcuk off and do that in a bathroom or somewhere a bit more approriate than in my fcukin ear :mad:

stevek93

Skedaddle wrote: »

In Japan people actually wear face masks when THEY have colds to avoid spreading the germs.

Yes why don't we do that here? Seriously its like some people enjoy the flu

wakka12

Randle P. McMurphy wrote: »

Here's the problem OP. Sensible people don't need to be told not to go in to work wih Flu. It's only the ' I don't take sick days' brigade who would attempt this. No amount of encouragement will dissuade fcktrds like this from struggling in to work on their last breath.

Its more likely people who have contracted the flu but not showing symptoms yet go to work, they're still contagious so it spreads to people before they even know they're sick and can spread it

storker

titan18 wrote: »

Half the people think they have it and all they have is a cold.

I have a friend who has never had a cold in his life. He gets the 'flu a few times a year though...

How to tell the difference: if it was just coughing and sneezing, it wasn't the 'flu. If you got over it after a couple of days, it wasn't the 'flu.

storker

Feckin' Australians, coming here taking out jobs and our women and giving us their 'flu...

dr.fuzzenstein

embraer170 wrote: »

And what do you do when your boss expects you to be at work unless you are in bed dying?

Come into work. Meet him/her face to face. Make sure to breathe/cough/sneeze in his/her direction. Make them loads of cups of tea, don't forget to handle the cup in an unhygienic manner and maybe bring them a cake/scone you baked for them.

Steve F

Repsulive wrote: »

'Aussie flu' is the cover story for the lethal, highly contagious, superflu.

A month from now, you and everyone you know, will be dead.

I'm running up a MASSIVE bill on anything I can then

jester77

So, is this like a down under flu where your ass is dizzy and constantly coughing and sneezing phlegm?

soups05

putting the actual flu aside, I love all these posters advising people to stay at home while sick. Every single boss I ever had would do the nut if you phoned in sick, you would want to be on your deathbed ( with a note from your undertaker) before they grudgingly allow you the day off ffs.

In factories most of my coworkers would come in while sick, not to be the hero, just to avoid the grief. In the shops I worked in you would often have people coming in, dosed up, coughing and sneezing into their hand and then handing you money. But by far the worst were the dirty feckers who would look you in the eye while coughing in your face...luckily I was an asshole so I would commonly spray water from a spray bottle I kept under the counter right back at them, then explain it disinfectant to kill the germs.....for their benefit of course

ger vallely

ceadaoin. wrote: »

Maybe they can't afford to take the day off work? Or they don't want to piss off their colleagues who will have to pick up the slack if they have to take time off. Sure there's always people on here moaning about how unfair it is on them that people have kids.

A child with the actual flu would be seriously ill.I can't imagine any parent sending in a child in that condition in fairness.

If you are a parent then that child has to come first. If they have a fever that requires medication, are vomiting or have diarrhoea they should be kept home, not spreading their virus to everyone else. Next thing you know it spreads like wildfire to other children, staff and families. Some staff members may be pregnant and are put in the firing line of parents who send their ill child to school no matter what.

ger vallely

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

I can see both sides of the story, yes Crèche’s don’t want illness or flu spread around to other children but parents need to work and the Crèche’s do not forego their fee when a child is off sick so it’s a case of ‘keep your child at home till they recover but still pay us our €350 a week’ so I can see why parents feel they have no option. If Crèche’s were to reduce or waive fees when a child is off sick then parents might be more inclined to keep them at home. I do realise Crèche’s still have their overheads but they can’t have it every way. There needs to be some give and take.

I personally work in a preschool where the children are eligible for the free school places. No charge at all to parents. Still children are sent in with fevers or vomiting bugs. I understand that parents may need to work but this is their child, their sick child. The parents do not have to fork out for days attended or missed.

RandomName2

vicwatson wrote: »

But sure I've never been to Australia

If the mountain won't come to Muhammad, Muhammad must come to the mountain. Er.. flu flew here.

snowgal

I hate that feeling, when you read about something like this thread and then you feel like you're actually getting it!! I feel phantom throat, fever and body pains now....

clairewithani

snowgal wrote: »

I hate that feeling, when you read about something like this thread and then you feel like you're actually getting it!! I feel phantom throat, fever and body pains now....

Me too. Germs through the keyboard I bet

WoollyRedHat

Pinch Flat wrote: »

Avoiding all things Australian to be sure so no fosters or neighbours for me.

Aussie Flu: Keep it Home and Away.

TAFKAlawhec

One eyed Jack wrote: »

Loss of life isn't inevitable if people are treated in time surely?

Guy I used to know died yesterday morning, reckoned that he caught "Aussie Flu" and had such a bad reaction to it he quickly developed complications and the doctors couldn't save him. Supposed to have been fine on Friday. He was in his early 30's, fit as a fiddle. Leaves behind his wife and two children. A sobering story of how no one is invincible.

RandomName2

TAFKAlawhec wrote: »

Guy I used to know died yesterday morning, reckoned that he caught "Aussie Flu" and had such a bad reaction to it he quickly developed complications and the doctors couldn't save him. Supposed to have been fine on Friday. He was in his early 30's, fit as a fiddle. Leaves behind his wife and two children. A sobering story of how no one is invincible.

What, seriously? :eek:

Kamili

TAFKAlawhec wrote: »

Guy I used to know died yesterday morning, reckoned that he caught "Aussie Flu" and had such a bad reaction to it he quickly developed complications and the doctors couldn't save him. Supposed to have been fine on Friday. He was in his early 30's, fit as a fiddle. Leaves behind his wife and two children. A sobering story of how no one is invincible.

His poor family, what a horrible shock for them. May he rest in peace.

Wibbs

RandomName2 wrote: »

What, seriously? :eek:

It can happen and happen that quickly too. Particularly in young healthy people, depending on the form of flu virus you get. The flu itself doesn't kill you as such, it's either your immune system's overreaction to it, or complications from secondary infections like pneumonia. And all that can happen quite quickly. For start you're infected a couple of days before you get get symptoms. Then if the immune system overreacts and you have a strong immune system it attacks all the cells that the flu virus has hijacked with collateral damage. This can cause bleeding in the lungs, the lung tissue itself becomes less efficient at bringing in oxygen and you drown in your own juices. With some strains that cause the immune system overreaction the usually vulnerable people, the very young and the very old tend to survive it, but young fit healthy men and women are more affected. Pneumonia goes a similar way, but its often a bacteria that takes advantage of your state, with added complications if the bacteria get into the bloodstream causing sepsis and then septic shock which usually sets off a cascade failure in organs like the liver and kidneys and th heart can be involved and go into "shock" and stop. Sepsis can go from "sure I'm feeling grand" to "we regret to tell you they've passed away" within hours.

ceadaoin.

Wibbs wrote: »

It can happen and happen that quickly too. Particularly in young healthy people, depending on the form of flu virus you get. The flu itself doesn't kill you as such, it's either your immune system's overreaction to it, or complications from secondary infections like pneumonia. And all that can happen quite quickly. For start you're infected a couple of days before you get get symptoms. Then if the immune system overreacts and you have a strong immune system it attacks all the cells that the flu virus has hijacked with collateral damage. This can cause bleeding in the lungs, the lung tissue itself becomes less efficient at bringing in oxygen and you drown in your own juices. With some strains that cause the immune system overreaction the usually vulnerable people, the very young and the very old tend to survive it, but young fit healthy men and women are more affected. Pneumonia goes a similar way, but its often a bacteria that takes advantage of your state, with added complications if the bacteria get into the bloodstream causing sepsis and then septic shock which usually sets off a cascade failure in organs like the liver and kidneys and th heart can be involved and go into "shock" and stop. Sepsis can go from "sure I'm feeling grand" to "we regret to tell you they've passed away" within hours.

Well, that's great to hear. So glad I read all that. Wasn't worried at all before! :eek:

TAFKAlawhec

Just to add to what Wibbs mentioned, a century ago seen the beginning of the outbreak of "Spanish Flu" that spread worldwide.

The 1918 flu pandemic (January 1918 – December 1920) was an unusually deadly influenza pandemic, the first of the two pandemics involving H1N1 influenza virus. It infected 500 million people around the world, including remote Pacific islands and the Arctic, and resulted in the deaths of 50 to 100 million (three to five percent of the world's population), making it one of the deadliest natural disasters in human history. Disease had already greatly limited life expectancy in the early 20th century. A considerable spike occurred in the first year of the pandemic. Life expectancy in the United States dropped by about 12 years.

Most influenza outbreaks disproportionately kill juvenile, elderly, or already weakened patients; in contrast, the 1918 pandemic predominantly killed previously healthy young adults.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1918_flu_pandemic

Akrasia

snowgal wrote: »

I hate that feeling, when you read about something like this thread and then you feel like you're actually getting it!! I feel phantom throat, fever and body pains now....

The good old nocebo effect

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocebo

Dakota Dan

Dakota Dan wrote: »

If you had the flu in the first place you wouldn't be able to go to work, people still can't seem to grasp the difference between a head cold and the flu.

Not so it seems if you read Arlessienne's post (#17):

I really don't think comments like this, or the many similar ones in the "worst flu" thread, are helpful or sensible. I completely understand the annoyance at people with the sniffles claiming to have the flu at every hand's turn, but the fact is that sometimes people can have the flu and still be able to be up and about. I too used to believe this stuff being peddled about the "real flu" having you unable to even type a message. And then I had swine flu confirmed with a swab while I was still working and carrying on with my daily life. I had what I considered to be just a moderately bad sinus infection.

I too thought that if you had the flu it knocked you for six in all cases. I'd say its down to each person's immune system and how they react to the virus. A person who has the flu and can actually be up and about during the whole time of the infection could potentially infect alot more people.

4068ac1elhodqr

One of the red tops is reporting that the 'influenza B Yamagata' strain might overtake the Aussie's h3n2.
Thankfully it's not as severe as the Aussie one, but B-Y may not be completely covered by the main flu jabs.

Also confirms the story of the young sporty chap in his 30's, RIP.

Maybe governments should consider handing out free silver nano-particle facemasks, and '3 second' UV sanatisers at all public transport terminals.
Think of all the work day/weeks lost to the flu season, nevermind the cost to society.

2 interesting articles. Apparently you can have flu and show no symptoms at all!! Doesn't mean though you aren't giving the virus to others. I'd say this is why it spreads so quick. The second article claims that up to three quarters of those that are infected show no symptoms or only mild symptoms from having flu.

http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/newssummary/news_6-1-2016-10-1-44

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2014/03/17/290878964/even-if-you-dont-have-symptoms-you-may-still-have-the-flu

Steve F

clairewithani wrote: »

Me too. Germs through the keyboard I bet

Computer virus,deffo!
Run everyone,run for your lives

chrissb8

Irregardless if it's the flu or not you should stay at home if you have a contagious disease.

This notion that you have to go to work when you're sick is madness or at least the people who insist on it. My sister was out sick for 2 days from an Italian guy in her work who insisted in coming in and spluttering everywhere. Insisted he was getting better. I could have gotten it luckily I stayed away from my sis. But are people that thick? or just completely selfish?

Kamili

chrissb8 wrote: »

Irregardless if it's the flu or not you should stay at home if you have a contagious disease.

This notion that you have to go to work when you're sick is madness or at least the people who insist on it. My sister was out sick for 2 days from an Italian guy in her work who insisted in coming in and spluttering everywhere. Insisted he was getting better. I could have gotten it luckily I stayed away from my sis. But are people that thick? or just completely selfish?

Tell that to the bosses and companies around the country that don't pay for people who are out sick and give them a far from easy ride if they do miss a day.

Its not as black and white as you make it out to be.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Rayan Swift Photocopier wrote: »

Loads of people sneezing into their hands at Mass yesterday and then eagerly reaching out to everyone in the vicinity during the sign of peace. I became very interested in my Mass leaflet and unfortunately didn't see most of them!


Seriously, people need to use a bit of cop on when they're ill. Struggling into work coughing and spluttering and whining about your sore throat doesn't make you a brave soldier. It makes you a pain in the arse.

Stupid Catholics who think that missing mass because of illness is some kind of mortal sin! They'll be richly rewarded for their Trojan efforts in the next life. :rolleyes:

4068ac1elhodqr

In every pocket of the continental United States, people are experiencing flu symptoms right now.

The first time that has happened, in the 13 years of the CDC’s current tracking system.
And thus, the 1st year of having the entire continental US at the same level (of flu activity) at the same time.

Not every single person obviously, by enough for it to be classed as 'widespread' in nearly every state as of now.

CDC estimates^ that this season so far, influenza has caused 9 million to 35 million illnesses
^difficult to estimate.

PhilOssophy

There has not been even 1 mention of the manflu so far this winter. Far more serious than covid-19/Aussie Flu/whatever.
Lethal.

Airyfairy12

Randle P. McMurphy wrote: »

Here's the problem OP. Sensible people don't need to be told not to go in to work wih Flu. It's only the ' I don't take sick days' brigade who would attempt this. No amount of encouragement will dissuade fcktrds like this from struggling in to work on their last breath.

In fairness to some people who go to work sick, management in some places can be a nightmare.
Id be the type to not miss a day of work unless I was genuinely ill. In my last job around Christmas last year I was so sick, never been so ill in my life. I called into work sick that morning and the manager shouted at me over the phone told me he's no one to cover me.
I was living with my parents at the time and my dad gave me such a hard time for not going into work, I was having cold sweats, had a plug radiator beside my bed, central heating on, a jumper and two duvets but was freezing cold, a really bad cough and laryngitis.
Went into work the next day and for the rest of the week, was crying going in I was so unwell but felt so much pressure from management and the parents to go to work. I was on a short term contract and was more concerned that it wouldn't be renewed if I missed time off work.

I think, instead of telling people to stay off if sick, more focus should be on management to ensure they give staff the time off that they need and not pressure employees to go to work sick.

Montage of Feck

Ah fook it, im just going to take those cyanide tablets that the government sent out in case of nuclear armageddon.

r93kaey5p2izun

Ahh, the memories. Posted in this thread in early Jan 2018. Spent a fortnight in hospital with complications from Aussie Flu in March 2018, and only getting to grips with the long term effects this past few months following dozens of tests and interventions from multiple consultants over the last two years. Little did I know!

bobbyy gee

mild flu season those buggers


https://www.healthline.com/health-news/australia-mild-flu-season-what-means-for-the-united-states

Montage of Feck

I've never taken a sick day, if you discount Monday's from the celtic tiger years .