What would we have done if swine flu hit during a regional?

[GeorgeTheEng]

The Major concern FIRST has had with this type of pandemic is what effect it would have on teams. If Schools force teams to avoid large gatherings or cancel school/sports/extra curricullar activities (like Texas is doing now), teams might not be able to participate.

In large enough numbers, that could seriously effect FIRST's finances and might prevent a season from occurring. There are folks who always have that in thier minds. Even though they are a non-profit they have employees, suppliers, and contractors to pay. Missing a season could cause some serious problems for FIRST.

This type of thing falls under disaster planning. The potential impact is in the same category as a major terrorist attack, or significant natural disaster.

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by GeorgeTheEng

This type of thing falls under disaster planning. The potential impact is in the same category as a major terrorist attack, or significant natural disaster.

Right now, at best, it is a confusing situation in areas of Texas. People are scratching there heads, asking questions, and wondering at the craziness. The instant communications resources and easy access being used by the media and by the general public is helping create/drive the confusion and anxiety. Right now for many students, it is a time of finals, TAKS, preparation for APs, never mind the social and extracurricular aspects such as proms and sports competitions. The teams have to comply with the decisions of the school districts and private schools.

[Akash Rastogi]

One thing I wanted to correct people on is that its the H1N1 virus, not N1H1

This is actually a big thing people don't understand the meaning of. Contact with the flu will not make you drop dead. You have 2 days to get treatment within the more urgent symptoms and because the "swine" flu has a strain of regular human influenza mixed in, it is very treatable and preventable.


People need to keep things in perspective in the media, just from January to May this year, over 20,000 Americans died of the regular human pathogen flu. To ease everyone's tension, think about it, the people who normally find the regular flu fatal, are the same people who are threatened by the H1N1 strain of the flu. There is not much difference. Just relax and stay clean.