Are there any cases yet in Philadelphia?
Christine, there are no reported cases in Philadelphia at this time.

Can the swine flu be passed through breast milk?
No, swine fluid cannot be passed through breast milk.

I have an up coming trip to cancun, should I go? My trip is may 12-15 at a resort.
The CDC is recommending you avoid all non-essential travel to Mexico at this time. This may change ? follow CDC.gov for more updates.

i've had all of the listed symptoms since last thursday including the vomiting and diarrhea. i am still sick today but feel like i am on the tail end of it whatever i have. as far as i know i haven't been exposed to it and philly has no confirmed cases yet so i feel it's mostly likely the common flu, but i just don't know. should i go get tested or would i be wasting my time since its so far not a deadly strain here?
First, you should call your health care provider and tell them (on the phone) about your symptoms and see what they want to do. From your description, you are getting better and most likely they will tell you to stay home one extra day after you feel well- then you can return to work.

My wife told me a woman in her aerobics class stated she had the Swine Flu. What is the potential of infecting others in that aerobic class and family members?
There are no proven cases of swine flu in Pennsylvania at this time so its hard to know if this woman was indeed ill. If you are exposed to a person with respiratory illness and fever, consult your family health care provider.

should those who are receiving special treatment(chemo) or have weakened immune systems do anything in particular to prevent the disease.
and can pets catch sine flu
There are no recommendations for special preventative measures for those with weakened immune systems at this time. If such a person is exposed to an infected person, they may be given anti viral medications by their health care provider. Pets cannot catch this disease.

From the first exposure to the swine flu what is the incubation period before you start feeling sick?
The disease is transmissible 1 day prior to the onset of symptoms and then for up to 7 days. The incubation is 1-3 days but up to 7 days.

If and when are we going to have to stay indoors? Do you recommend stocking up household items?
There are no recommendations in the United States at this time to limit outside activities. In areas such as Mexico, schools and large gatherings are being limited. This is not an issue in the US at this time. As more information emerges, the public health departments will provide additional guidance.

Households should have supplies in case of any emergency, not just for preparation for influenza.

I was recently in NYC the weekend of April 18. Since I have returned home i have had sympthoms such as: nasal/ chest congestion, mild fever/ diarrhea, headache, and sore muscles/ throat. Could this possibly be enough to be concerned about the Swine Flu??? Thank you for any help!
While all cases have been connected to an exposure in Mexico, if you believe you may have been exposed to someone who was ill and have these symptoms, please call your health care provider and see what they want to do and keep in mind cases have mostly not required hospitalization in the US thus far.

Should I cancel a trip to Cancun in the middle of May?
As of today the CDC has issued a travel advisory to Mexico. Individuals should reconsider non essential trips to Mexico. At this point of time I would reconsider your travel plans. You may want to contact your airline or travel agent to discuss options.

dear action news i have just one question, what do you do if you're diagnosed with the swine flu & you have pets? ex.dog and/or cat or both. fortunately me nor my family has been diagnosed with that however, i was just curious. thank you
Pets cannot get the Swine Flu and are not a source of contagion.

My daughter and three of her friends are returning from Cancun this evening. Do we take a "wait and see" approach or is there something we can do proactively?
I would recommend a ?wait and see? approach. The incubation period can be up to 7 days. Possible symptoms include high fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat and body aches. If you do become ill, then call your physician and tell him about your recent travel.

can you get it by eating pork?
No- as always cook your meat but eating pork does not transmit disease.

How is the swine flue transmitted? How do you know if you have it or just a cold?
The symptoms of swine flu are the same as human flu. A person may experience high fever, cough, runny nose, body aches and fatigue. As with human flu the symptoms may be mild or severe

I got the flu last Tuesday. (4/21). I had all the typical symptoms except that the body aches seemed more severe than I have ever had with the flu. It lasted only about 30 hours and I'm fine now. I don't know anyone who had it before me or after I recovered. Do I need to report this to anyone or should I assume it was just a normal flu?
If you are fine now- its unlikely you had the flu in such a short period. If you have lingering concerns, call your health care provider. Symptoms last up to 7 days with this disease.

Do you have to have all the symptoms listed in order to go to the doctor, or do a few of them warrant a doctor's visit? Really, how can you tell the difference between the regular flu and swine flu without a test?

Thank you for answering my inquirey.
A febrile respiratory illness warrants a call to your health care provider particularly IF you have an exposure history that connects to Mexico or the reported cases- please keep in mind that this is a fluid situation and your health care provider is also just receiving info.A test must be done to tell the difference...

Is there any medicine you can take to prevent swine flu from taking hold? I realize the hand washing, keeping your hands away from your face, but I am talking medicine. Thanks!
We dont advise medication for people not exposed to this disease. Keep up the handwashing and basic, what we call respiratory ettiquette.

I work in a local hospital's ER(but not a RN).I notice last week(B4 notice of swine flu outbreak)a young guy came in the ER with 103.9 fever,nausea,real bad dry cough(But he said he had it for about a year)But it got worse since he came back from Cancun,the prior day.He looked and felt really bad! Now since listening to your broadcast,I fear it may be related to the swine flu,but i really dont know! My question is,I'm new to ER unit,so I dont want to stir things up,but should I say something to someone,that I think this? Please Advise. Thank you!
If you have concerns you should contact the Medical or Nursing Director for your Emergency Department and describe the situation. One of the ER physicians may want to recontact the patient and clarify their symptoms and travel history. Influenza symptoms would not last for as long as a period of time you described.

I'm scheduled to leave for CANCUN in 6 days. Reports are only saying MEXICO CITY but then I hear about students returning from Spring Break in Mexico but the news isn't reporting WHERE in Mexico these kids came from...bottom line should I go to Cancun or cancel my trip?
Currently, there is a travel advisory stating not to go to Mexico for non-essential travel. That means your trip in 6 days- at this time- if its non-essential, you are best to reschedule. AIrlines are honoring the changes at this time.

My adult son had his spleen removed after an accident. Would the swine flu be more serious for him? He is flying within the US this week. Should he have Tamiflu as a precaution?
There are currently no recommendations for Tamiflu prophylaxis for travel within the US. Individuals who had there spleen removed are at increased risk for bacterial infections. He should have received the pneumococcal vaccine in the past.

i have emphyzema and get a flu shot every year do i have to get a flu shot for swine flu
There currently is no swine vaccine available. While the flu shot provides protection against human flu, it is unknown whether it will provide any protection against the swine flu.

MY FRIEND HAS A 4 DAY TRIP TO CANCUN PLANNED FOR THIS COMING WEEKEND.....SHOULD HE CANCEL IT OR IF NOT WHAT PRECAUTIONS SHOULD BE TAKEN TO AVOID FLU?
As of today, the State Department has issued a travel advisroy to Mexico. It the trip is nonessential then I would consider changing the travel plans.

Does the swine flu get spread through contact with pigs as well as eating pork.
The swine flu is not spread by eating pork. Yes swine flu can be spread from ill pigs.

Traveling to San Antonio. Anything that I can do premptively? Will be in a 5,000 person convention.
There is nothing in terms of medication to do at this time. Please follow basic respiratory hygiene- cover coughs, wash frequently, etc and consult CDC web site at CDC.gov for updates.

Is it true that if you got the flu vaccine last winter, you won't get swine flu OR it won't be as bad?
There currently is no swine vaccine available. While the flu shot provides protection against human flu, it is unknown whether it will provide any protection against the swine flu.

Is this likely to be like the 1918 epidemic in which my young, healthy grandmother died, in that it mostly affects a young adults rather than very young children and the elderly. If so, why?
This is an very early version and we hope it doesn't go in the same direction. Basically, this is the end of the flu season and swine flu is literally in the air- the worry is that it will be back in the air in the Fall (this is what happened in 1918) and we hope we have vaccine by then (most likely, we will)

How do you get this?
Also what do you tell your children who are in school not to do or what to do to prevent getting this. is it curable?
Its an airborne, respiratory infection. Current cases that are known are connected to Mexico in some way (vacation, travel, etc). There are medications- antivirals, that shorten the course in the case of infection and can prevent it if someone is definitively exposed. there is no reason, however, to give the medication to the general population. Schools should step up the handwashing which should always be there...

our school is having a trip to New York City on Wednesday. i know there are known cases there - should we still go?
There are no advisories against travel to NYC at this time and we dont expect any. Please follow CDC.gov for official travel info.

what will happen to anyone that is vacationing in cancun? will it be a problem for these vacationers to re-enter the u.s.? what can these vacationers do to prevent contracting this flu since they are much closer to the origination of this swine flu? and are they being notified of what is going on? and lastly, when they do return home what should the immediate families of these vacationers do to avoid contracting the swine flu? our families were married on saturday the 25th and our children are now in cancun. being busy prior to the wedding, no one noticed the warnings on tv until the morning they left(sunday). so, we are all concerned for them as well as anyone else who is vacationing in mexico. this information will be valuable for all of us involved. thank you for all you can inform us with. dvuotto, norristown:)
Unfortunately the outbreak in Mexico is currently evolving. Individuals currently in Mexico should check either the CDC or State Department websites for the most current advisories. Individuals who return from an area where swine flu is occurring should monitor themselves for fever and cough for 7 days post return. Currently preventive treatment for swine flu is not being recommended unless you had direct exposure to a confirmed or suspected case. The simplest measures to prevent transmission is to do frequent hand hygiene, cover your cough or sneeze.

Crazy qustion but I am nervous: My anatomy class is planning to dissect fetal pigs this week, should I be worried?
No question is crazy. But you have no risk with the class.

In the media I keep hearing Mexico as the origin of this outbreak. Does this mean the whole country of Mexico or mainly Mexico City?
The start appears to be Mexic City but the entire country is now with a travel advisory. Its best to think of the entire country of Mexico for the advisory at this time. Consult CDC at www.cdc.gov

Shouldn't children receive a vaccination now; the symptoms they suffer appear far more serious than adults
There is no vaccination available for swine flu at this time and it will be several months before there could be one given what is involved. The good news is that its very late in the flu season and the vaccine should be here by next season.

I want to know were did the SWINE FLU come from
There are many different types of influenza. Some of these types cause infections in pigs, some in birds and some in humans. Sometimes the different flu strains can infect the same host and the genetic material from the different strains can mix together and a new strain emerges which can infect not only pigs but humans as well.

can thisget diease kill you if you get it.
There have been no reported cases of death in this country. Flu can kill but more often from complications and the good news is that we have, in the US, great support systems and medications.

We have a 2 year old child in our home. Can he take Tamaflu should the need arise?
Yes- your pediatrician would be able to administer the antiviral drug if need be. But currently, there is no need to do so unless true exposure or proven illness.

is the swine flu an airborne infectious disease?
Influenza is usually transmitted by respiratory droplets. These droplets are produced when an individual coughs or sneezes and can spread to another person who is nearby (usually within 6 feet). That is why is so important for people to cover their cough or sneeze with a tissue.

My husband and I are leaving on a plane for Tennessee this Saturday. Should we be concerned. Also, does this year's flu shot have any effect on the swine flu?
There is no current reason to post pone your trip. Wash hands frequently. The CDC does monitor planes that leave from areas of proven disease (particulary Mexico). No coverage for swine in this years shot.

Is this the same strain that we were vaccinated against in the mid 70's?
No, this swine flu is most likely different than the type of swine flu that caused an outbreak in Fort Dix in the mid 1970s.

I am really worried and extremly concerned, is this at all preventable? And how can we protect ourselves against it? And dose swine flu deal with consuming any pig products? Thanks for your time
Prevention is best done now with common hygiene (wash, cover coughs and so on). THat is the best protection. No relation at all to consumption of pig products. If you are truly exposed to someone with know disease, there is medication to take. Ask your doctor. Keep in mind this is thus far not severe and the govt is getting ready with an existing plan.

How can you tell if you have Swine Flu or 'regular' flu?
The only way to distinguish swine flu from Human flu is by doing special tests on the sample. Currently in cases where there is a concern, samples are forwarded to the CDC for additional testing

Do you think it will be safe by june to go to Mexico for a wedding? My youngest is 3. thanks!
We regret that its too soon to predict what June will be like in Mexico. Keep current with travel advisories in www.cdc.gov If travel is for only urgent issues, you will still know this in May and have time to decide. AIrlines are honoring changes>

We are planning to go to Cabo San Lucas the end of September and made final payments - do you think we should cancel?
Sorry but its too soon in this situation to advise you. If the advisory remains in effect though, chances are good you will get your money back. Airlines are honoring this now. Keep current with travel advisories over the next month.

The death rate in Mexico for this is nearly 10%. Should we expect that in the U.S.?
It is to early to know what the death rate in Mexico or the US will be. We do not know how people in Mexico actually had the swine flu. So if there were many more cases than reported the death rate in Mexico will be much less. Currently there are no reported deaths in the US and so far the illness appears to be less severe.

I got back from Cancun two weeks ago. I am not sick but could I have been in contact with someone and it not come out yet.
No- if you are not sick after two weeks, you do not have swine flu. If symptoms occur however, please do call you health care provider as you normally would since there are other things that can happen in travel.

On May 13 my husband and I will be travelling to the Slovak Republic, the Czech Republic and Austria with a lay-over in Germany - should we be concerned?
That is alot of travel but the current advisory pertains only to Mexico. An epidemic- pandemic- is a fluid and changing situation. Consult the CDC travel advisory and/or the WOrld Health Organization. There is a solid plan in this country to alert travelers and please know that planes are screened as need be.

Can't a vaccine be developed rapidly; do any of the existing vaccines provide any protection?
Existing vaccines do not cover swine flu. Work on a vaccine for Swine flu is already underway and will take some time- perhaps months. The good news is that its possible to work toward creating one.

I am scheduled to travel to Cancun, Mexico on 5/2-5/9, and I am 29 weeks pregnant, should I cancel my tip?
You need to call your obstetrician- regardless of your pregnancy, the fact is that Mexico is under a travel advisory and may still be in that situation over the next few weeks. Chances are your obstetrician may ask you to postpone your travel.

I heard on the view from Dr. OZ that schools around the country might get shut down for 7-10 days. Do you know if this is true? When is this going to happen? and how should I prepare?
Schools in Mexico have been closed for 7-10 days because of the situation there. Currently I am not aware of any school district closures. The local Public Health Departments will advise school districts if schools need to be closed. This will depend on the number of cases, if any, that are occurring in a specific area.

I'm very concerned. My mom is actually on a cruise this week and it's going to Mexico. I've tried reaching her to give her a heads up and to tell her to take the precautionary steps, but the ship is at sea and you can't get a signal on a cell phone. Does anyone know if a cruise line would realize the risk and possibly not allow the passengers to get off at port? Thank you.
Cruise ships should be on alert and hence, they should have the advisory from the CDC as they travel. They would know the risk.

What the antivirals can do to this swine flu?
There are two antivirals which can be used to treat swine flu. One is a pill (Tamiflu) and one is an inhaler (Relenza). These medications can shortened the duration of illness and maybe prevent some of the complications that may occur with the flu.

I am 6 months pregnant. Wondering what the advice for pregnant women are. My husband also travels to NY 3 - 4 times per week.
You should call your obstetrician if you are concerned but the advice now is not different than for other persons at this time. The flu shot for the ?regular? flu that you should have received this year does not cover swine flu- the best thing right now (again, no cases yet in our region) is good hand and respiratory hygiene as you know. There is no current problem with travel to NY. Consult with the cdc.gov website for more info.

We have a trip already planned and totally paid for to Riveria Maya (Mexico) in the middle of June. Should we still go?
Since the trip is in the middle of June, you will just have to wait and see how the situation progresses. Keep checking travel advisories from the CDC. Also, if it gets closer to the time, you might start checking into what the airlines are offering. Right now, they are letting people postpone some flights to Mexico without penalty.

My 15 year old daughter is leaving for Australia and Fiji on June 15, 2009 via Atlanta and Los Angeles for a three week trip as part of a People to People student ambassador program. What preventative measures can I take, and what should she be very aware of that far away from home? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!
The People to People program will be receiving, as always, up to date advisories for travel in relation to outbreaks. Currently, there is no reason not to go- but keep in contact directly with the PTP organization as more information becomes available.

Can my 8 month old child get it? Is there anything I can do to prevent him from getting it?
Influenza can affect a person of any age. The best way to prevent an infant from getting ill is by making sure everyone washes their hands and to cover the mouth and nose when they cough or sneeze. In general anyone with a cold or respiratory illness should try to limit their contact with a young infant.

My daughter is currently in Cancun due to be back on Thursday..Are they allowing people back into the states?
At this time, they are allowing folks back in the states. If someone is sick on the plane OR more info becomes available, they may hold the plane when it arrives and check on the passengers to make sure there is no reason to quarantine. But keep current with CDC.gov

i am a limousine driver doing a lot of pick ups from passengers returning from mexico. what should i do about me and the vehicle i pick them up in.
The situation you pose is challenging to solidly answer given what we know. The disease can be transmitted one day prior to the onset of illness and then up to 7 days after the first day symptoms occur. You could be exposed to illness without knowing it. However, for now, given what we know, you should practice good and frequent handwashing (a purell like product is fine) and consider good ventilation in the vehicle. Should you develop symtoms of flu or have concern you are exposed to it, please call your health care provider.