You have nothing to be afraid of. We all need to stop allowing stories like these to frighten us. We used to live outdoors for crying out loud. The human race is much stronger than swine flu. If you take precautions, like you should everyday, you will be fine. And if you happen to catch something odds are you will not die. Disease has always been apart of nature, it is her way of thinning out the weak.

I agree Joe Nobody but if you're the weak link you may not like nature very much. Take precautions WASH your hands and sneeze into your elbow...truthfully same precautions I take every day anyway. I don't or I try not to touch my eyes, or my mouth or nose unless my hands are washed thoroughly. If you go out and come back in wash your hands. After touching keyboards, or after bathroom activities WASH YOUR HANDS. Whether it's swine flu or any flu or a cold or ebola WASH YOUR HANDS 20 seconds with SOAP OFTEN!!!!

I'm totally in agreement with Joe Nobody. So far, 40 people out of 276 Million in this country have gotten sick, and none of them seriously.

The United States is not Mexico, in most relevant respects, a fact the media conveniently fails to mention. They have, as always, been instrumental in creating a frenzy of fear from an almost total lack of foundation...but the facts are all that matter.

So far, no significant threat to the United States has evidenced itself. Unless, and until the numbers and/or mortality rate get a whole lot larger, we should just go about our business and follow the same common-sense procedures that keep us healthy, in general, every day.

I wouldn't get together with them, I would avoid them if I were you, i'm sure they will understand. As a matter of fact I think they should ban all travel right now! Saying that travel bans don't work is just stupid! The more people that travel, the more chance that one -20 poeple on that flight have this virus and will spread it to many others on a plane with recirculated air, say 30 people pick up the virus, they in turn are going to bring it to 30 different places, their work, their town, stores, schools etc. spreading it to many other who will in turn spread it etc etc. Why not be cautious now? why not close schools and public events etc. NOW! why wait until it's too late?

I'm all for over reacting, it can't hurt, it can only help!

I agree!!!!! It is so irritating to hear people say...oh well, it is just hype by the media or worse is the person who is bragging how they would rather go through the worst pandemic episode ever than to fear and stop living their life. Speak for yourself please! Now that is being overdramatic. You do not have to live in fear or stop living your life to be more cautious and to help halt the spread of this virus until we are better prepared to handle it. It is not just hype...the concern is not that this is just a flu like we get every year. Don't you people understand what the problem is? It is a NEW strain. It is something we do not have ANY natural defenses from yet because we have never been exposed to it before. Now that it exists, we are able to create a vaccine for it, but that will not help the people who have already died or are infected right now and are infecting others continuously before they even know they are sick yet. That is why taking it seriously right away and containing it is the best thing to do. Remember SARS? It was deadly to almost everyone who contracted it. It was taken seriously. It was immediately quarantined and therefore the number of deaths was minimal and the spread was halted. The virus can't live in a dead body, so by eliminating the availability of a "human home" for the virus, it could not thrive and multiply. We eradicated the virus completely, thus avoiding a global outbreak that could have killed millions. Maybe your kid or your sister or best friend or you. So, it is just plain selfish and irresponsible for people to continue to live life normally to prove their point. If you don't care about yourself, that is sad, but you are making decisions for the rest of us. For those saying it's just another way for the government to get money, phooey. The fact is that our Government is not taking things as seriously as I would like to see or as quickly. We won't close airports because we don't want to lose the money, not because we are trying to not be alarmed. Think about how fast this can go if just one person is in an elevator with 10 other people. That person is sick, sneezes and infects those other ten people who go on and infect another ten people while those 10 infect 10 more!!! Come on now. It doesn't take a rocket scientist. We will spend far more money on allowing this virus to spread and then how much is a human life worth? Because we need to add that in too. The government just advised the making of the vaccine which again should have never been held off to wait. That is an issue for the amount of time the virus has to spread and then when it is strong and we are all infected and are being treated by the only two medicaations that work right now, but may mutate and then we have the potential for it to become worse. The flu is still a scary thing to have or watch a family member suffer from. It doesn't seem like a big deal anymore because we won the war with that one, but not before it killed MILLIONS of otherwise healthy adults and young kids. Following some of the hints on how to wash your hands with SOAP often and keeping a distance is smart, but honestly, we should try to stop the spread now And another thing for the really "bright" ones out there. New York, the state with the hishest number of reported cases, were from a group of kids who went guess where during sprink break? CANCUN. How could you not have heard about it.

Ridiculous! Of course I'm going to Mexico, and I'm going to have fun, like always! It'll be nice to have the beach all to ourselves I guess! You people are so silly. It's just the flu! Get over yourselves you morons.

Are you kidding me? Close the schools? Ban travel? We have an immune system that protects us, as well as hygiene. If you are a sickly person stay away from crowds and such like you have already been doing. It's a flu, and with every flu some people have mild symptoms, others worse and a few may develop complications and pass away. This is sad, but a normal course of events. This is a new flu and we should be vigilant but we cannot stop life!

You are dumber than s...!!!!!!!!It does NOT come from eating pork, it is a Virus for God's sake.

Do Muslims keep their heads wrapped so what little brain they have does not fall out?!

To canceled check;I think" Riz-1057002"meant getting the swine flu from pigs being grown to be consumed as pork,not from the meat itself.

Any way that was Riz's opinion,why did you have to insult all muslims because of that?

To canceled check; I think "Riz1057002"meant getting the swine flu from the pigs being raised by contacting them.Since Islam forbids the consumption of pork ,who do you think is raising them any way?!

Ps: why do you have to insult all muslims because one of them expressed his opinion?!

That is one of the great things about America you can have your religious beliefs, and we can have ours!

Bacon, Bacon, Bacon!!!

It's NOT the pigs FAULT ! It's the HUMANS who care for them that CAUGHT the FLU!! Maybe had they praticed CLEANING their HANDS & covering their mouths, it would have STAYED THERE!

It's NOT the pigs FAULT ! It's the HUMANS who care for them that CAUGHT the FLU!! Maybe had they praticed CLEANING their HANDS & covering their mouths, it would have STAYED THERE!

You are very rude Ron Paxton...I am going in "steerage" so guess I'm one of the unwashed masses. If you can't say something positive,don't say anything...that shows ignorance !!

The ventilation system circulates the air (germs and all) through the whole plane. First class doesn't protect you!

You are going to Cancun!!!But you don't want ANY contact with the"Unwashed Masses". That's right everybody is clean in FIRST CLASS!!! ahahah.

how can u say that everyone that has to ride cabin is an unwashed mass? who the hell are you to determine this... you capitalist @!$%# i hope you get swine flu and die :) while we the unwashed masses that ride cabin eat your carcus :)

Your comment seems racial to me.

Your comment is completely racist... It's a shame that you "Americans" don't learn thru history... Oh! by the way, you have a black president today. 30 years ago he may be of the "Unwashed masses"

And the drug dealer who flies back and forth a lot and has accumulated so many air miles that he is now an"ELITE" mileage member will be automatically upgraded to 1st class and treated like royalty by the airlines for his patronage. I sure hope that he sits next to you and spreads all of his germs all over you from his constant interaction with the druggies. You deserve it. Anyone can sit in 1st class even slugs like you!

Peter -- How is that a racist statement? There is no reference to race. Definitely elitist, though.

Wow. Racist to the both of you Laura and Ron. Mexico is a beautiful city and RON is going to THEIR country. Maybe, R-O-N, you should let the appropriate people have first class; you have no class at all.

It's the same recycled air, no matter where you're sitting on the plane.

Actually, due to the quotation marks, I read this comment as being little more than tongue in cheek. I've used the "unwashed masses" phrase myself, but never with elitist or racist intent. And let's be honest...haven't we ALL felt this way while packed into the coach section of a plane? Steerage and the Great Unwashed (myself included, after a long transcontinental flight) indeed. I'd upgrade, too - especially now with the concerns about swine flu and crowded spaces.

SoupMom, I'd agree with you about the recycled air. However, flu can be passed easier through close contact with others. If the guy next to me (the one who is practically sitting on my lap, due to the confines of coach and its sardine-can seating) is infected with flu and coughing, it's more likely that I'm going to come down ill - no matter how careful we both may be - than it is if I can keep an isle between the two of us.

Wrong, Peter...it's not racist to say "unwashed masses". It's FACT. Mexico is a third world country, and I have personally seen the towns where sewage is run into the streets. What would you call it? LOL.

Ron/Joe I am with you-everyone else, quit taking yourselves so seriously, you sound like the media.

I'm sure that will help you alot, you'll get off the enclosed, air conditioned plane first!!

as Gregory House would put it, "you're an IDIOT" as everyone else has pointed out to you first class doesn't give you any protection whatsoever, we all breathe same air you moron, and then you get off the plane even at home you're not safe, blatant fool, have you washed yourself today? you are not better than anyone here stupid.

Ron,

See you in First Class leaving for Riveria Maya tomorrow and flying first class. Maybe same germs but defintiely not the cattle in " steerage compartment"

Michiganders

Hey Dave, I see that you are in Playa! Can you tell me what it is like there right now? We are scheduled to travel there next week and I am curious about the flu outbreak and if the resorts are up and running and you know, should we throw caution to the wind and head south?

Dave...I am traveling to Playa Del Carmen on May 31st! How are things looking there?

Bravo Dave, well said!

A "dumn" vacation? Not trying to sound nit picky, T04, but you would actually spell that as dumb. And people who have spent a lot of hard earned money in advance and cannot change their plans - ie, a wedding to Cancun, does not quite qualify as dumb and senseless. And look at the law of large numbers, here. More people get hit by trains each year than have died of this flu. Be aware, wash your hands, and most of all - be realistic. If you personally chose to avoid areas, so be it. But do not let fear and panic control your decisions....

you risk your life every day, I don't think this swine thing should be just spread with out a care in the world, but people are buying in to the hype. You risk dying from seasonal flu every year around 36,000 die from this flu every year. Its not like this is not curable, regular flu meds are working for this, wash your hands and take percautions just as you would for any flu stay home if your sick, but to stay locked a way because this is going around is silly, you could end up getting it just as easy from going to the movies or store with out going out of the country

We have a group trip planned to leave for Cancun this Wednesday. I do not think they will restrict travel by then --but I am worried about not being abel to get back in the country. My husband and I have commitments we just cannot get stuck down there.SO you think that is a possibility ? I think the numbers are alot higher in Mexico than reported. THey do not even have the technology to actually test for this strain.The US has gone down to do the testing for them. I am not sure if we should cancel or not .

We have a group trip planned to leave for Cancun this Wednesday. I do not think they will restrict travel by then --but I am worried about not being abel to get back in the country. My husband and I have commitments we just cannot get stuck down there.SO you think that is a possibility ? I think the numbers are alot higher in Mexico than reported. THey do not even have the technology to actually test for this strain.The US has gone down to do the testing for them. I am not sure if we should cancel or not .

Cheryl,

In response to your question of reported cases in Cancun. YES, I heard on Headline news tonight the 8 NY kids were in Cancun. My husband and I have travel plans this Wed and are flying into Cancun, airport and staying in Playa. We are talking with our travel agent tomorrow about other options.

The planes are not cleaned and made germ free. Same planes same air, silly rabbit

I'm not stupid same air same plane. No kidding!

I was to leave for Cancun on Saturday. Wifey is highly disabled and highly susceptible. We are also waiting to hear from the travel agent. We have heard that cases are coming into other countries from all over Mexico, not just Mexico city.

I am supposed to be going to Riviera Maya in the next 2 weeks with my two-year old son, if you decide to go can you let me know about your experience? I am sure the media is blowing things way out of proportion and in my earlier days- pre motherhood- I would have gone with reservations but now that I have my son my fear level has sky rocketed. Please inform me about your trip if you continue with it. Thanks.

Michelle

I am suppose to fly to cancun on may 4th..I am debating about going or not..I want to but im worried..