Swine Flu Concern--Birthday Party?

I see you have a lot of responses so I will be brief. I have a 10 month old that I do worry about with this thing because she is so young. I do not worry about myself or if I had older children. Have the party, make them wash hands and not share drinks etc and have a good time!

I think you should have lots of sanitizing gel available, ask parents to please keep their kids home if they are sick, and have a good time. It's good to be cautious, especially if you live in the area where someone's been diagnosed, but this flu strain is actually not worse than the regular flu according to experts at the CDC. It's just a strain they hadn't expected and is only considered pandemic because it crossed state lines.

No- Are you worried about the regular flu? More people died last year from the regular flu than swine flu. Plus they already said that it is killed by tamaflu. Just use caution.

It's all a government scam to get everyones mind off of the bad economy. Looks like it's working!!

I would not cancel unless your school has been closed. They are saying that this is actually a mild flu...it's just that it is very contagious b/c we have no immunity to it. I agree with the other postings to just enforce hand washing before eating, not sharing drinks...so make sure that cups are labeled?....and that the chlorine is a good thing!

Yes If I was you I'll cancel it and pray to god all of this flu thing stops.

Have the party.
If it makes you feel better get hand sanitizer and put it everywhere and make sure the use it before they eat.
Have fun.

Looks like you have gotten conflicting advice. I think the whole flu thing is totally out of control. We just found out last night that they have canceled the annual Scout Show! My son has a big dance tomorrow night and I am scared to death that they will cancel it! The kids have been looking forward to this all year.

So, personally, I don't think there is any danger in your daughter having a party. My only concern would be that if they cancel school or things get crazier, that the party would not be well attended. There is nothing sadder than planning and anticipating a party and only having one or two people show up. If you can get commitments from enough people, then I would go ahead. But if you are concerned that people may not attend, then I would put it off for a few weeks.

I wouldn't cancel but I would ask the people to PLEASE not come if their child or anyone showing up has a fever or has had a fever within the last 48-72 hours.

I wouldn't cancel. The whole thing is out of control, seriously! The whole country is questioning why FWISD closed all campuses. Look at the statistics about how many people die each year from the "normal" flu. If parents are worried about their child contracting it at your 9 year old's party then they shouldn't send them, simple as that.

i don't think you sould cancel the party i just think closing schools and activities are just making people to panic they are overeacting about this theres just like 20 deaths in mexico but the almost half died because they also have other health problems no mainly for the flu also 36,000 people die of the seasonal flu every year in the United States.

updated: i want to make a little update because i was reading what rebecca z said and is not truth she said they has not transportation and the supermarkets are closed and thats not truth a lot of people are using PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION a lot of people are going to supermarket they are living a "normal" life just with the general precautions .and they are not sure where the infection starts because they can not find a single pig sick .the news and a lot of people are just making people panic.

so go ahead and have your party and have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!

My daughter would attend as well. As long as the school is still open, the kids are intermingling with each other anyway.

That being said, I would closely monitor what's happening in your area, and give parents a heads-up that you may be postponing the party if things get worse. They'll appreciate your concern and be able to make alternate plans with their family.

Good luck!

to put this whole flu scare into perspective, a child would be more likely get involved in a car wreck on the way to the party than to get affected by this flu.

It would be pretty rare for anyone to have swine flu. The percentage of people that have contracted in the US is very, very small. However, I wouldn't allow anyone to your party if they are sick; however, this should be common practice all year long anyway. There are far more cases of just regular flu each year - 250,000 in the US with 20-30% of the population getting; 36,000 deaths each year. I know of one little boy that died in Dallas this past influenza season from the flu. I would be far more concerned about just regular flu than swine flu. Good luck with your decision!

The media has blown this flu thing way out of proportion. Mexico confirmed that there were only 12 fatalities and not 168 like previously reported. Even though this flu is highly contagious, the symptoms have been mild and about 25% of the people that catch the flu don't even show any symptoms. Life should go on and the government should stop scaring everyone. People should do what they normally do when it's flu season. Stay home if they feel sick and wash your hands often. Go have a great party for your 9 year old!

Hi M.,
We have a pool also,and I have 4 teenagers who really want to jump in it. We have had it treated and its safe to swim in, but if the kids are in school still and you know how water gets in mouth and spit out sometimes when they play.
I just worry if one is sick and doesn't know it. I read an email on line from a ER Dr. in New Braunfels who said with this type of Flu strand people can actually be infected with it, but it could take up to 2 days before syptoms start to develope. If you have noticed also there really isn't any clear information on what triggers the flu to travel where. My mom always advised me to make every decision for my kids with Common Sense 1st, and then anything else to help me decide is just gravy.
I wouldn't chance it especially with kids.
My advice would be to have a Chocalate Party! or Dress up Party, or Dance Party indoors. Anything you can do that doesn't require close contact area.
hope that helps a little.
Thanks
Jen

I would not cancel. It is a mixed bag what we are hearing in the press and media; it's up the to parent to decide what they believe. It's like: are you the Fort Worth ISD and shut everything down or the Dallas ISD and only close schools with confirmed cases? I agree with the Dallas ISD approach. If you hold the party, the kids' parents can decide on their own if they want their kid to attend - and their decision will be respected. Also, talk with your child and prepare them for a possible low attendance. I think you will find that enough parents are not scared to keep living.

Absolutely- as a teacher, I have seen how nasty this can get.

My first response is no, but that is with a few precautions. Has there been a confirmed case in your child's school? If not, I would go ahead with the party, but use paper plates and cups and plastic utensils so all this is thrown away. And don't allow kids to share drinks, etc. Of course, insist every child wash their hands before eating, and keep sanitizer on hand for quick clean ups after playing with pool toys, etc. Really just a little more vigilant with common sense and the party should be fine. It also goes without saying that parents should keep sick kids home. Happy birthday to your 9 year old!

I agree with Kim - if the school hasn't had any suspected cases, I wouldn't cancel. An outside party where they're not breathing on each other seems like the safest variety with a Respiratory Infection going around.

S.

I'm with Kim . . . the reaction to this flu has gotten completely out of control! I say go full steam ahead, with maybe a cautionary reminder to the parents that if their child is sick to please keep them home (which is common sense anyway!). And maybe just have some hand sanitizer available and make sure kids are using it before eating, etc.

I just had my daughter's 10th b-day party this past weekend, at a movie theater. I can tell you that everyone is just fine!

If I were you I would go ahead with the party.

Yes, I think you should. Since they are cancelling schools and alot of social gatherings, I think that would be best.

Here's some recent information that was emailed to me regarding the Swine Flu. This came from a Doctor. I don't believe it is a government scare tactic to divert attention. It is an alert to inform the uneducated public of the seriousness of this virus!

Important facts:
* Dallas has 8 cases. It can spread very fast. He gave us a ratio of 1 to 2000. One person can spread the flu to 2000 people. Now, with 8 cases pending...can you imagine what it can do. The regular flu spreads at a rate of 20%. The swine flu is spreading at a rate of 50%. (For example: 1 person exposed to 10 people...regular flu = 2 people infected...swine flu = 5 people infected)
* The Swine flu generated on a pig farm in Veracruz , MX. That one person in Veracruz travel to Mexico City and infected the whole area. Mexico City has shut down; they have no transportation, nobody working in the super markets, not enough people working in the hospital and there is over 2000 people with the flu. He said a little over 180 people have already died. He also mentioned that people in Mexico usually don't see doctors instead they go directly to the pharmacy and that the pharmacy has now run out of medication. So, in reality, we don't know how many people have really died or how many people are ill because of the swine flu, due to the fact that most of them don't see a physician. All of this happened within 23 days.

Therefore, without proper precautions, we could actually suffer from a severe epidemic here in the US within the next 21 days. Just imagine...at a 50% rate...that is 50% of our entire population!

WHO is not an organization that "overreacts", so it should be taken seriously, however with proper precautions our social lives don't need to stop altogether. Insist that kids stay home if they have a cough or are feeling bad, make sure they use sanitizers as they come in and wash before eating. Basic good hygiene is enough to prevent problems. You may not have a good turnout though, other moms are having the same concerns you are. You could consider rescheduling,or ask the parents of kids who are coming how they feel about it.

No just call or email the parents and ask them not to send kids if they might be sick...

unless things change drastically by then...

hth
A. J

Here's a great article on the flu thing. http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/0... Not sure if you should cancel. Other parents might be too freaked out to send their children though.

have the party. make sure all attendees are informed to wash their hands frequently. no double dipping into foods or drinking/eating after each other. toss used items immediately in a trash dispenser. good luck.

I would still attend if my daughter was invited to a party. The way I look at it, all those kids swimming around in germ killing chlorine is probably the safest kind of party :-)

We actually spoke to our doctor yesterday. She said that this flu is not near as harmful as the regular flu that comes around in the winter. She said it is being overcommercialized to freak people out. She said it is easily treatable with Tamiflu. She said she would just stay away from sick people and wash hands really well, which are two things you should do normally. Have the party and have fun!

No, have the party.

My husband is a Paramedic and he said when people are calling 911 b/c they think they have it, they have 2 criteria they must meet. 1. They had to have been to Mexico withinn the last 8 days and 2. They had to have been around someone that was diagnosed with it. So unless anyone meets these 2 criteria, I wouldnt cancel. : )

I know you have had lots of responces to this matter, but I wanted to give you one more just incase.

Something that the media doesnt seem to want to tell us is that this is just the flu! It is treatable with tamaflu, and other flu meds. The only reason for the precausions is becuase none of us have been vacinated.

Mhy husband is a paramedic and said that they have been getting calls non-stop from people freaking out and calling 911 becuase they think they may have the flu. IF you have not been to mexico or had close contact with some one who has been to mexico in the last 8 days, or been in in close contact with some one who has been invected with the swine flu, then you have no worries.

Just make sure you follow NORMAL sanitary practices and you should be fine. Wash hands often and before eating, make sure the kids dont eat or drink after each other, and if any one is showing signs of being sick in any way, then they need to STAY home! Of course, these should be normal practices for all of us any way. This is really no different than the normal flu, and though it is sad, lots of people die from the flu every year any way. The media is creating mass panic for no reason.

I would still celebrate your daughter's birthday and have a great, "safe" time!

No! don't stop living life because of this thing! as long as you are taking the proper precautions it will be fine.

swine flu is being ridiculously overdramatized. If someone has the flu swine or any other kind the rule is the same to stay home until your fever is gone.

M.,

Please don't get excited about the swine flu. Yes, it's a nasty flu that will make you feel bad for a week, but everyone here in the states has recovered well. The one "US casualty" was actually a toddler who traveled from Mexico for treatment. Those in Mexico that are dying, 12 so far, live in very unsanitary conditions and were already immuno-compromised. Read this link about the facts, not the hype the media wants you to believe, to ease your mind.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/0...

I would think its best to cancel. Give this thing a few weeks to see what develops and how bad (or not) it gets over here. Better to be safe than sorry.

Make sure your chlorine levels are correct in your pool. That should help. Ask parents of children that are sick or runny noses to please not attend. No one's laughing about this swine flu. If they show up with a kid with fever or feeling sick, ask them to go home. I know - how hard is that? Most people wouldn't come if child is sick anyway. Just make your feelings clear when the invitation is sent, like with a follow up call. Most mom's will probably agree with you.

If a child is sick, maybe promise to have them over at a a later time or for a just for fun, pool party.

No need to be fearful. c