WHERE WERE THESE CASES FROM BDN WE NEED MORE INFORMATION...GOING TO GO GET ORANGE JUICE A BOTTLE OF PURELL AND SOME GLOVES AND MASKS AS WE SPEAK

its comming ----peace

great

pray, pray, pray.....

it was great knowing you all I hope we all know that our fearless leader John Elias Baldacci has aligned himself with satan on this one

oh no, not the end times maniacs.....

I am at brewer high on the schools computer cant wait to tell everyone that we are screwed

are they really going to cancel school we dont get out till june 20 somethng already i dont feel like spending my summer birthday in school with no air conditioning

here we go.....

even the furthest state from mexico isnt immune to this....

WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE

PRAY FOR OUR FEARLESS LEADER THE BALD ONE TO SAVE US FROM EXTERMINATION!!!

I think Alaska and Hawaii are farther from Mexico than we are

well obviously the lower 48 dipsh**

text H1N1C to 40404 for the hottest ringtones

goodbye to all

Stop

Honestly, I want to know how these people got the swine flu and where've they have been also.

Just wash your hands all the time and keep up with fluids and stuff. It's common sense to not sneeze or cough without covering up...well maybe not common sense since no one seems to have the decency to do it right now.

And masks are about as helpful as mesh, idiot.

oh for heaven sake, people. educate yourselves. stop playing into the hysterics.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swine_influenza

thepinetreehell----On top of everything else, can you not read or do you just not understand?? It very plainly stated in York and Kennebed county!

educate yourselves................with wikipedia?!?!?!?!

That's at least two rungs below the BDN comment section on the credibility ladder.

OMG were're all goin' to die!

No one in the media is saying it because it's probably RACIST but it seems that only mexicans are dying?

Did'nt the BDN see Brian William's lead in to the NBC Nightly news last night? The Obama administration does not want it to be referred to as the Swine fly, they are asking it be called the H1N1 virus. Apparently they do not want pigs to be stigmatized. Seriously. He really said that.

How can the BDN be so insensitive!

Miller Drug has already run out of anti-viral meds...when nobody in Bangor has the Swine Flu yet. Why are doctors giving prescriptions to people who aren't yet ill? What about the people who will get ill but who can't get the meds that are being hoarded by jerks? Doctors should be prosecuted for this ludicrous practice!!!!

Thank all of your Liberal's in Washington they let all of the Mexican into the USA and now we are going to suffer for it, thanks Obama for your help

Not that I look around for your posts, boogyman (sponsored by Viagra), but your stupidity advertises itself!

You do realize that there is something called the pork industry?

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/44/2009/04/28/with_eye_on_industry_ag_secret.html?wprss=44

You give the brain dead hope, boogyman!

We're not "Liberal's" but liberals and furthermore, it's mostly the Americans going to Mexico who brought it back with them. I don't think all the Mexicans came here since Jan. 20th either. :-) But go ahead and blame liberals and Obama and maybe also for the grass growing. Someone needs to be blamed because I'll have to mow my lawn soon.

The Mexican death toll has been so high because many in Mexico are malnourished or otherwise immunocompromised. This is the FLU people, most of the cases will be mild or moderate, and people that die from it will be the ones who are either sick in the first place, old, or very young. The regular flu kills 36000 per year in the U.S. alone!

markko, upeaster and Joshua:

Thanks for your rational remarks!!

But this flu has such a funny name, Josh!

Glad to finally see something reasonable here about this.

Yeah the Pork industry marrko, I've heard of that. The CEO is Obama and the CFO is Pelosi. How do you fit in? Knob polisher?

The word is that no children have the flu yet. As soon as any confirmed cases happen, that particular school will be closed for 7 days to control the spread of the flu.

This smells like Al Qaeda......

Don't forget the vodka for the OJ pinetree.....

They'll just be at the mall if they aren't in school. It's gonna spread one way or another.

wikipedia will save you!!!!!

Ask Anne..........

No it's the rebublicans fault. They have already started blaming them by saying they pulled the funds from the Pork plan, er I mean the Stimulas package, er I mean the national economic recov....whatever..the Pork plan. Poor pigs just can't catch a break this week.

here's a site that might be helpful:

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

By the way boogy, nice post, well written and to the point.

Ever read "The Stand" by Stephen King?

On 4/29/09 at 2:25 PM, boogyman wrote:

"Yeah the Pork industry marrko, I've heard of that."

so bogymann, you agree that your previous comment was moronic. But then why discriminate?! ALL of your comments are moronic.

Well thank you SD, and I must say I really appreciate the thoughful tones of your posts lately. You know, some people here (I won't mention names) are so hurtful, why sometimes when I read them, I just want to cry.

100 days and look at the stock market, give me a hell yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

I'm trying......

Was threatened by the BDN nazi too many times.

does anybody else get the feeling the boogyman and SteveyDingleberry might be the same person?

No. I'm Cuter, he's smarter.

By the way Markko, how's your sister? Still hanging with the football team under the bleachers?

Somewhere between Y2K and Tom Ridge telling me to stock up on plastic sheeting and duct-tape, I lost my interest in this kind of governmental hysteria. I'm pretty sure that the sky is not falling.

Josh my boy,, don't start with me......

Please make people spitting all over the place a criminal offense with big fines

angela an educated guess: the reason that drug stores are running out of the anti-virals is because most doctors have prescribed it to their staff as a precautionary measure! It only makes sense that they will be exposed to it better to be safe than sorry. They are the first to get the flu vaccine every year and will be the first to get the new vaccine for swine flu when it is available in the mean time they have to be protected some how!

More is on it's way and will be here by sunday! I doubt that there are NO doses available anywhere. Miller drug has run out but there are many more pharmacies in the area. How many doses of it does Miller Drug have on any given day? do they have a large amount or is it something that they carry 100's of doses of or 10? The scare tactics are going to do nothing. Inciting a panic is not the way to go! The swine flu is here....it isn't the end of the world. Stay inside, stay away from malls, make sure your kids have purell in their backpacks and use it frequently! wash hands often and make sure that your kids know to cover their faces when coughing or sneezing and to wash after they do!

We are probably out of antivirals in the Bangor area (not really out, the hospitals do have some) because they are used to treat many other viral illnesses. Once the CDC got involved, I'd imagine that suppliers stopped supplying to get a handle on what was going to happen. We already have a ton of Tamiflu and other antivirals on the way from the stockpiles. No worries.

This is not a big deal. In fact, if this thing does mutate to a second generation that is worse in a few months, the people that get the mild version now could even have some immunity.

With all the college students on spring break in March, and the cases in Atlantic Canada, it's actually surprising that these are the first cases, although it's very possible there have been plenty other cases, but people weren't sick enough to go to the doctors.

Also, masks are NOT useless if you expect to be in contact with infected individuals. They do prevent a significant percentage of droplets from entering your airway when you inhale. Yes, viruses are very small, but they are contained in the spit expelled with a cough or sneeze. Those moist droplets hit the masks and stick. I work with patients with respiratory MRSA and other things far nastier than this flu and handwashing and those little paper masks have kept me safe so far.

The Sky Is Falling! The Sky Is Falling!

Well not really....however, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is what my dear departed mother used to say.

There are everyday actions people can take to stay healthy.

- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.

- Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective.

- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

Try to avoid close contact with sick people.

- Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through coughing or sneezing of infected people.

- If you get sick, CDC recommends that you stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them.

Some of us (myself included) because of what we do for work will come in closer contact with sick people then others. So people take a deep breath.......and exhale. Follow the common sense advice above from the CDC and you reduce your potential exposure to this flu.

Baldy's hair grew back fast

AP, Washington, DC. 2:15 PM

At noon today a spokes-person for the President told selected members of the press that the President will inform the American public regarding the true extent of the "swine-flu" pandemic at a press conference and address to the nation (via pre-recorded video) Wednesday evening. The spokes-person said that at the actual time of the address, the President and his family will be safe at an un-disclosed secure location, complete with micro-ventilation system and enough ribs, fried chicken and watermelon to last the duration of the outbreak. The spokes-person added that the President had earlier today quipped, quote: "This is going to be really difficult on people what with everyone sick and dying, but I'm sure they'll understand".

Joshua:If you post long enough on these BDN letter sites, you will catch on... re 2:51 PM It doesn't take long. Most just ignore it; it isn't worth it.

The BDN should add a feature that allows you to put a caption on the photos. That second one up ther is just begging for it.

Thanks JD2008!

Anyone who would believe anything the individual wrote at 3:27 PM is listening to nothing but lies.

Ha Ha Ha thanks for pointing it out chersully, I missed that one.

I liked the old bdn back early last year when you could upload photos to your comments.

I used to post pictures of Nazis whenever there was a Baldacci thing

Oh, as far as Miller's Drug is concerned, they are the largest (by prescription volume) in Maine and are consistently in the top 10 - 20 in the country! Now some of you may doubt this, but it is true and the reason is they are one of only two suppliers in the state which will "blister packs" for nursing homes. RiteAid, Walgreens, CVS, Hannaford, WalMart, Sams Club, etc...will not do this function as it is very time consuming. The pharmacy tech and pharmacist take bulk containers (100, 200, etc...) of medication and create "blister packs" for individual patients in nursing homes. The "blister packs" are what you will find on the med carts that med techs push around. So, Miller being out of antiviral medications is not a surprise. Healthcare providers are among the first to receive as prophylactic treatment. However, I do not know of anyone in my medical social circle that are currently receiving prophylactic antiviral medications.

JD,

I haven't been informed of prophylaxis yet either, but I imagine that they were waiting for case confirmation. Me CDC ramps up now and the facilities start implementing their action plans. Given the size of our state, they might even enact plans geographically, although I wouldn't be surprised to see a mask requirement in the morning around here.

I meant a mask requirement for healthcare workers in facilities.

justmehere....I agree, I suspect York and Kennebec will be the first to see a mask requirement.

I suspect you will start seeing mask on front line EMS people treating and transport patients with "flu like symptoms" and/or respiratory/fever calls.

I kinda pity the PCP's and clinics in the area, now the panicked hordes will appear and the media hype sure isn't helping. I'm way more worried about the system becoming overtaxed by worried people than I am about the flu itself.

Should bring lots of natural remedy sales, and illegal drugs out there for people to consume and fill eastern maine and other local emergency rooms with no room to spare. More are likely to die from panic than actual epidemic. Or some street drug that they od on again to fill emergency rooms with. Yeah the source is what we would like to know. Where they recently traveled to get it.

I am beginning to visualize the lines outside places like PCHC, EMMC's Walk-In Care and the local ER's. I agree with everything you have posed justmehere.

wow strange comments but i went to school with john a pudgy little guy but smart i partyed he studied its not just him its power structure that has ruled during bush when he first became gov. he had jocs mess to clean up and it was deep ,sure the state gov is crooked its part of the bigger picture MONEY IS POWER -so call him what you want its still a mess started way back when i was young its in the open now they cant hide it any longer the house of cards is commin down peace

JD2008:

re 3:36 PM

I, for one, do not doubt it at all....concerning Miller Drug. I am well acquainted with all that they do.....the dedication.....the free delivery,etc, etc. I hope they continue to do well. Many many people would be lost without Miller Drug. The personal attention and quality is unparalled.

At one point (after I had my children and before I had some leg surgery) Miller Drug was the only place that specially ordered a certain kind of hospital stocking that I required before the surgery. If not for them, I would have been in a real quandary.

Miller Drug and the employees deserve all the praise they receive. They work so hard, and really care.

While a new strain, especially one that crosses species barriers, is something for officials to be concerned about, I really wish the media would emphasize that this thing is spreading much slower and is less severe and dangerous than the annual seasonal flu's are, at least for the time being.

this is why the flu lives stupid people--Reconstituted Virus: When the 1918 flu disappeared, no samples of the virus were retained for scientific study. In 1997, however, scientists recovered fragments of the virus’s RNA genome from the preserved remains of infected people. peace

a researcher rinsed a petrie dish in a lab sink that was contaminated with the cells the rest is history down the drain and into the world

Seriously - has anyone died who is not Mexican? Anyone remember what happened when Europeans discovered the new world?

Well, kb5898 was right. I was just doing a search that should have returned a ton of government and academic website results and instead got a high percentage of "Oldest European Pharmacy" etc. ads selling "Real Tamiflu CHEAP" for inflated prices with "NO PRESCRIPTION NEEDED". And you know some panicked people are going to go for it. It's so sad that the media hype is going to end up making these scumbags money when they are probably not even selling real medications.

OK. 2.175 million to get antiviral medicine to treat 500,000 Mainers. What about the other 800,000 people in the state. The media is really blowing this out of proportion. I heard a report today that they were slaughtering all the pigs in Spain as a precaution.

We should NOT be using the stimulous money to fund this. Ridiculous. The government , and it's endless (seemingly) troth of cash , should provide everything we need. Something else will suffer in this state becasue we had to dump our stimulous money in to this latest "epedemic."

They better thank their lucky stars they are not near DECH because if they were they wouldn't stand a chance in h***

markko, i agree with you, however how rude this person is?

url about h1n1 ---http://www.fas.org/programs/ssp/bio/factsheets/H1N1factsheet.html

I am really quiet concerned for my elderly and child relatives, and for my diabetic boyfriend. I don't think it's too terribly funny.

Also, WMTW just reported that they are closing a school and daycare because two children are showing symptoms.

Maine School And Day Care Closed Due To H1N1 Flu ch 2 just posted think about it if its just flu why are they doing this never closed because of flu before hmmmm peace

3 adults and 2 children in maine already confirmed with the virus-kennebunk elem and an arundel daycare closing-obama doesn't want to close border in mexico and cause panic- has anyone given any thought about the millions of migrant workers that will be coming from mexico within the next couple of week s to work at summer resorts and harvest crops!!!!! how many mainers will be infected then-my spouse is an emt and i have 1 child in elementary school and 1 in college-i think i am borderline panic already!

SearsportAlum04:

I understand your concern. I am sure they will be all right, but I understand your worry. And it certainly is not a topic to be made a joke of!

THE SKY IS FALLING IN!!!!

yours truly.

Chicken little.

Thanks to all the usual posters here, I've enjoyed the laugh. The subject is not very funny and the BDN seriously needs a photographer that doesn't need camera instructions in Braille.

This was made so much more tiresome having to click all the thumbs down, can't we just all play nice here?

You know what's really weird?

All those that have fed into this hype are gonna emerge as fools.

But that won't hit the paper.

I'll lay odds that I will be have a heart attack before swine flu...any takers??? I can cover ten bets for 100 bucks. But I'm doubling my odds...two to one. Any takers?

Jeff

Sure blame the animals, first it was "mad cow", then "the bird flu", now "swine"..

Hey...when you go out walking in the grass this spring be careful not to get bit by any ticks. I hear some of them carry lyme disease.

Of course, lyme disease isn't that big of a worry....heck....what with SWINE FLU on the loose (shudder).....

Gee...I'm glad we don't have malaria in Maine what with all the skeeters..or yellow fever..

At the age of 50 I amaze myself..I shoulda been dead at least a hundred times.

Or so says the media.

I think like snowstorms,hurricanes or any other catastrophic situation, it is probably wiser to be safe than sorry. COMMON SENSE is all that is really needed. Just do whatever it is you always do not to catch SteveyDee's colds, markko's URI, etc. We'll all be fine. Of course I hope SteveyDee and markko are both being safe. Let's all log off and go wash our hands!!

hey does BDN withdraw comments? Evidently they don't like us making fun of them and "others" for Blamming Bush for everything......Noticed some postings missing...........for shame

HeadedSouth, they can delete them if they get complaints. they also get hidden by the new "thumbs down' system. Has anyone tried the thumbs up button? Does it really do anything? SteveyDee and markko have been very bad today. I have had to click on here to read most of their more inane postings, but some were worth the laugh. I noticed people worrying about stocks of antivirals, has anyone checked the Tylenol and Ibuprofen supplies? I think SteveyDee should take stock of Tylenol for us tomorrow and markko, you can look into the ibuprofen. Washing your hands might keep you from getting sick, I personally believe in it. But if you do get sick, you are more likely to need the basics. Tylenol, Cold/Flu Formulas, or Ibuprofen for fever and body aches. Do not take any of the above with alcohol. Have clear liquids on hand. And if you have small children, keep a stock of Pedialyte. It's easier than trying to find something in the middle of the night.

THESE

THESE 3 PEOPLE NEED TO ROT IN HELL WITH THE MEXICANS THAT MADE THIS DISEASE

Looks like this lady has Pig FLU....FATTIE..5 Bucks says Gov. Badretardacci snuggles w/ this hog

LOL Maine62 .... i'm gonna say I'm sick and cough on baldacci and his swine

I think it is Bioterrorism!

Thank goodness for John Balacci and Dr. Mills....I could never get out of bed each day if it wasnt for them telling Maine what was right and wrong and how to live. I am amazed the state is still here after past flew outbreaks when John and Dora werent around.

It is a huge government test to see if they can wipe out a country without even sending troops. They needed a reason to get ride of their huge "stockpile" of expiring antiviral.

hey guys GOOGLE FEMA COFFINS

It's good that people are taking basic precautions to protect themselves from swine flu.

How about we also take steps to protect ourselves from the next animal flu pandemic. Shut down factory farms, stop pumping animals full of antibiotics and growth hormones, stop feeding the animals genetically modified feed, SHUT DOWN MONSANTO!

Start raising the animals we consume in humane conditions and on small farms, and I bet will see healthier, happier animals.

These Industrial farms needs to get out of our food supply. That is the cause of these animal flu outbreaks, thirsts for profits, and cutting corners to achieve it. And the new viruses of the future will just get worse, incubating in these factory farms, constantly mutating.

But hey, lets keep washing our hands and make ever stronger antibiotics. What else can we do, we cant stop the machine right?

I have only seen a few rational comments on here. What is wrong with people? Yeah they are giving meds now but the bad thing is they should only be taken on the onset of symptoms. If they are taken now without any it could cause the virus to mutate. See thats what a cold and virus does. when one person gets it if for some reason it doesn't affect them it mutates. Then as it's passed along it gets stronger. Taking the meds now is a bad thing. Thats why colds don't respond to medication. You never get the same cold twice because of mutation. We all just have to pull together, sit tight and ride it out. Protect the elderly and young especially. The biggest reason this got in the US so fast could have a lot to do with spring break. College and high school kids alike go to Mexico during this time. Look at the 18month old that died yesterday from this virus. He came to this country on April 4 . Thats a month ago. Thats also another reason it spread in NY so fast, spring break vaca.

the flu that went and is still going around this past winter has killed more than this ...its just it`s not talked about !! read up fellow gossipers read up !!!!

In the 1918 Swine Flu pandemic they used the following to fix the problem: Colodial Silver- 2- oz, 3 times a day, raw garlic 1-2 cloves a day, Biscuit Root, the Indians took that and none ever got the swine flu then, organic apple cider vinegar used a mouth wash before meals, natural (not synthetic for everything) daily. Vitiams A,C,& D, Cinnamon sprinkled on organic fruit. Organic fruit and juice especially carrots and apples.

Mask didn't work then but it does help you keep your hands off your nose and mouth.

I heard Steve Quale on the Alex Jones radio show, Steve has a web site with interesting points about this flu. It's a listen and decide for yourself what you want to believe.

I work in a warehouse that supply's things such as mask, we can't get anymore from the vendor.

farupnorth....well, I am trying to think of something to say that is polite....hmmmmmmm.....cant think of anything.....maybe you are not far enough north.....maybe you need to live somewhere where there is no power and no internet access.

thepinetreehell....forget about the "FEMA coffins"....stop feeding the conspiracy nuts and do some basic research yourself.

blueskiesaboveme....and the reason the the flu pandemic or 1918 was????? No factory farming, no antibiotics, no growth hormones, no genetically modified feed....but hey, washing ones hands WORKS! But the one thing you are correct on is the "ever stronger antibiotics" due to over prescription of the ones we have! People demand them at the doctors office at the first sign of a sniffle. If the would only prescribe them only when necessary, the bug would not become resistance to them as quickly.

truthseeker....they are not giving drugs now...they may start giving some health care providers prophylactic antiviral medications soon in select areas of the state.

Calm down everyone.

Do NOT follow scintillate's post. and do NOT take colloidal silver internally. Colloidal silver is very useful as a topical in a product called silvadene. Taken internally it can cause some very unpleasant side effects.

No doubt JD2008, washing hands is very important. I'll do some research on the 1918 flu pandemic.

WHO update--influenza pandemic Wednesday as the fast-spreading swine flu, which has gained at least a toehold in nine countries, claimed its first victim in the USA, a Mexican toddler visiting in Texas.

The World Health Organization raised its global alert level to phase 5, just one level below 6, or "global pandemic," because the virus appears to be spreading easily person-to-person and cases are appearing that have no link to Mexico. That's where the virus first began to hit broadly just a few weeks ago. nine countries so far goggle it for yourself h1ni global outbreak .peace

I give the Mexican government some credit for being proactive - canceling large scale events, closing restaurants except for take-out and providing masks.

But international ignorance abounds. Russia and China have canceled all shipments of U.S. pork. Egypt has called for the slaughter of all pork in the country. The problem there is you can't get swine flu from eating pork. The pig would have to sneeze on you (kidding, of course).

It seems that those in the epicenter of the out-break have a greater chance of dying from the disease. Those infected via second generation exposure seem to progress through the disease akin to the usual flu. Remember, between a quarter to a half million people die from the flu every year worldwide. These fatalities are generally the very young or the very old.

Prevention is key at this point. We will weather through as we have with mad cow, bird flu, rotovirus and TB (remember, a few years back). The Mexican economy will take a major hit which will have a ripple effect on the U.S..

The bright side (if there is one) - oil prices dipped and your tourism dollars will be worth a lot more this summer. So, wash your hands, sneeze into your sleeve and shake hands with your elbow........

The 1918 pandemic did NOT attack primarily the very young and very old. The death toll was highest in people between the ages of 20 and 40. Since this is essentially the same strain of virus, we can likely expect a similar outcome.

Prevention may still be the key to preventing a serioud pandemiic. Hand washing, care in coughing and sneezing, hand washing, staying home if sick or your kids are sick, handwashing. And handwashing, handwashing, handwashing!!!!

I am a medical professional (retired)

One of the problems is that people DO NOT stay home when they are sick. I work at DHHS and we have clients that come in with Hep C, Flu.. etc you name it they come in and spread it. Also many workers both with the state and in the private sector do not have the time or just cannot stay home when they are sick. This really puts the rest in a bind.

We're all going to die .............. from ignorance. Just reading this tread proves that, "a little learning is a dangerous thing......"

:)

3 thumbs down and call me in the morning......

The media makes everything out to be worse than it is. 36,000 people die every year of complications of the flu. This virus is serious, yes. BUT...people die of the regular flu, and it's not plastered all over the TV. Everyone should be prepared, and wash their hands, and stay home if sick...normal flu procedure...hope everyone thats infected gets better, and I hope I dont get it! haha (knock on wood)

Joshua Quote: "The regular flu kills 36000 per year in the U.S. alone!" Excellent point. Pneumonia is right up there too.

JD2008, thanks for your common sense commentary.

justmehere and kb5898: I agree with your comments about worried people overtaxing the system. I would contend that packed waiting rooms will also spread other illnesses not even related to swine flu.

The people who need to be dealing with it are doing just that. My hope is that a panic public won't micromanage their protocol.

Keep fighting for sin to be legal in Maine and know i don't mean People i mean the sin that people are doing. God loves every one,he just dosen't love the sin.I know some are going to say just another religious freak, but all i can say is read the Bible every thing that is going on in this world today is written in there. All we can do is pray for one another .

Reading down thru these comments , I'm amazed that there SO many ignorant people that post here. Do you people ( and you know who you are) not have lives? SHEEESH!

The Vice President of the United States in effect told the whole country to stop traveling mass transit (closed in spaces) because of swine flu. Good call sir!!

JD2008:

Thanks for another sane and rational post from you!

I went to mexico 3 years ago... i have no swine flu

What's happened to Scatman?

The over-reaction is making me sick. It also seems like a good time to throw a little money around. Print more if they (gummint) have to. A couple of million or so should get a lot of hands clean and cover a lot of mouths.

Opinionatedmelanie; maybe instead of handing out money to those people you should tell them to go get an education and a job.

All it is, is FLU. just a stronger strain. The only people really in any danger are YOUNG and OLD or malnourished. If your body is strong enough to handle the 'normal' flu, you can handle this. Just prepare, Vitamins, Water. keep you body in top shape.

My god what is this world coming too, this is serious ? hope it gets under control before it kills people.

Makes you wonder how in the hell the virus got in the state of maine, someone had brought it here with out letting someone know they had it. What is up with that.

boogyman ; Usually it is the people seeking MaineCare that come in sick... sometimes other benefits... either way if you are sick STAY HOME

Governor Baldacci: Probable Swine Flu Case In Penobscot County not cinfirmed yet

Nightwolf1966...April school vacation...college spring break...people traveling on business...people visiting relatives...come in contact with an infected person while they are contagious....and you run the risk of developing the flu....not guaranteed but your risk factor to contract the flu just increased.

If you suspect you are ill, DO NOT GO TO THE DOCTOR"S OFFICE OR HOSPITAL. Call first and follow the instructions. That one step alone will likely be a great help all around. For all of you who don't care about spreading it around as long as you get an appointment, consider it the other way--if you have the flu, your immune system is weakened and less able to fight off all the other, nastier diseases that are floating around healthcare facilities. Stay home to avoid being exposed. It is, however, important to call a healthcare facility. They will be performing telephone triage and can give informed instructions depending on your symptoms.

There are not 160 deaths because of the flu. Read the World Health Organization press releases. There are about 10. The idiots at BDN are almost as bad as WHSN, just re-spewing whatever shocking statistic they hear second-hand. Poor journalism.

This flu... is a flu Not some crazy strain of "killer bug" that's laying waste in its path. Every year, the flu kills about 36,000 in the U.S. (stat from the CDC). A handful of deaths is sad, but to be expected. If you get the flu, you are probably not gonna die unless you're immunocompromised (weak immune system). Even then, chances are good you are just going to get sick like the rest of us.

Yes, the Spanish Flu was bad. But then, they didn't have the antiviral knowledge or science that we have today, did they?

The sky is not falling, Chicken Little.

Oh, and... WASH YOUR HANDS, for God's sake!

justmehere...excellent advice...we suspected one of our dogs had kennel cough recently...the vet's office did not want the dog anywhere near the office and other dogs...vet came to the car, opened the door, said "ewwwww", listened to breath sounds and closed the door. Total time examining the dog...under 30 seconds....the point of my post is while the dog needed treatment, the vet's did not want the other dogs exposed to the highly contagious virus. Call you health care provider first! Follow their instructions to the letter.

"The state is also urging people who believe they may be infected with H1N1 to call a special hotline established to answer questions rather than rushing to the emergency department. The hotline phone number is 1-888-257-0990. "

From the EMMC website at http://emmc.org/h1n1-swine-flu.aspx

Ok, overprescibing antibiotics is a problem but remember the flu is a virus and is unaffected by all antibiotics. Yes the flu kills 32k per year but, for this flu, they estimate 1.5% mortality which equals over 4 million (not sure if that means untreated or not). Avian flu is a much higher mortality rate (20-30% of those infected)but has not yet morphed into a disease that can be passed human to human...this one has...

Not to panic but this is something to pay attention to...this will likely have a profound effect on the cost of food (less migrant workers available to plant, process and harvest food), business (greater sicktime being used by workers), all types of public events and gatherings, non emergency doctor and dentist office visits (who's going in for a cleaning now), etc.

mainebeemer...currently 257 cases have been reported in 11 countries...using you 1.5% mortality figure that is 4 deaths (3.857 actually)....not sure where you are getting 4 million deaths from...you cannot die from something if you do not contract it.

You are correct in that we need to pay attention to this, but when you throw our a figure like you did above, you are contributing to the panic.

Is it just me or does this lady remind other people of Mrs. Umbridge from Harry Potter <<

Burp !!

What ever you do ,,,, do not panic,,,,, PLEASE NO BODY PANIC,,,,,,, KEEP THE MEXICANS HOME AND DO NOT PANIC,,,,,, AND BUY BLU RAY

Jeffemler, I did not advise anyone to take anything ,I said it's what they did 1918. I implied nothing of the sorts for self medication.

Anyone who takes anything without checking it out is foolish.