Castro suspends travel between Mexico and Cuba

[fiddle mike]

Texas' first flu fatality is  a Mexican child; I doubt he was here on his own.
I don't trust my government to do the right thing by US citizens as long is there is political capital to be made from catering to foreigners.  This flu outbreak could be very bad news for Americans who  have played by the rules, footed the bill and flown the flag.

IMHO, of course.

[Brad]

Over 600,000 people cross into the US from Mexico at legal border crossings every day.  Add that to the number who cross illegally or fly in and that's a lot of people coming across everyday.  There is no screening whatsoever of any of them.  I think that translates into a lot of flu coming into this country everyday.  I think Cuba might be a little smarter than us on this one.

[Bagger John - #3785]

Texas' first flu fatality is  a Mexican child; I doubt he was here on his own.

Correct. He was brought in from Mexico for treatment as part of a cooperative effort between U.S. and Mexican medical research teams.

[fiddle mike]

Over 600,000 people cross into the US from Mexico at legal border crossings every day.  Add that to the number who cross illegally or fly in and that's a lot of people coming across everyday.  There is no screening whatsoever of any of them.  I think that translates into a lot of flu coming into this country everyday.  I think Cuba might be a little smarter than us on this one.

The Cubans don't play games.  The Mexicans who cross into US legally are, supposedly, screened for flu symptoms.  If that was effective the Cubans would be allowing rich Mexicans to visit their country.
Of course, the people who are supposed to be looking out for the well-being of Americans have played politics with the border. 

[fiddle mike]

Texas' first flu fatality is  a Mexican child; I doubt he was here on his own.

Correct. He was brought in from Mexico for treatment as part of a cooperative effort between U.S. and Mexican medical research teams.

I didn't read that, but it doesn't make me feel any safer. 

[2tonevalk]

Well you got to "know" Castro.  When the AIDS virus first came out in the 80s he had the whole population 'tested' for it.  Those who tested positive were basically put in sanitoriums similar to what we did with TB patients 40 years ago.  So I am sure this is no different.  HOwever in the end and there is no way of really finding out, I doubt it did anything to curtail the outbreak of AIDS in Cuba. 
If he quarantines his country, I am sure his thought process is he saves millions of dollars in medical costs he cannot afford to spend.  However people from other countries who are subjected to swine flu are coming in, so he isnt gaining anything. 
Just my .02.

Ride safe
Robert

[fiddle mike]

Well you got to "know" Castro.  When the AIDS virus first came out in the 80s he had the whole population 'tested' for it.  Those who tested positive were basically put in sanitoriums similar to what we did with TB patients 40 years ago.  So I am sure this is no different.  HOwever in the end and there is no way of really finding out, I doubt it did anything to curtail the outbreak of AIDS in Cuba. 
If he quarantines his country, I am sure his thought process is he saves millions of dollars in medical costs he cannot afford to spend.  However people from other countries who are subjected to swine flu are coming in, so he isnt gaining anything. 
Just my .02.

Ride safe
Robert

News from Cuba will be worth keeping an eye on.  They identified a problem and tried to cut off the source.   Our government is not giving me that warm fuzzy feeling.
AIDS is not air borne and is preventable if you can keep it out of the blood supply, so I don't know if I'd draw a parallel, there. 

[Michael K (Az.)]

A couple of things from the medical front. Dr's are saying with this person to person contamination, it becomes a moot point where something has come from as it will be spread through out.
Good news, Dr's say that all the early studies they have been able to do indicates symptoms are like your standard, everyday flu. Still tough but not untreatable.

[fiddle mike]

A couple of things from the medical front. Dr's are saying with this person to person contamination, it becomes a moot point where something has come from as it will be spread through out.
Good news, Dr's say that all the early studies they have been able to do indicates symptoms are like your standard, everyday flu. Still tough but not untreatable.

I understand.  I have been known to over react, particularly when frustrated with what the government has done, and not done, in the near past. 
State Rep. Solomon Ortiz, Jr. (generally considered to be a worthy lawmaker) emails his constituents that the flu cases in TX are  "mild"  just days before the report of a fatality in our state.  That was not comforting news.

[Brad]

The Mexicans who cross into US legally are, supposedly, screened for flu symptoms. 

This is just a visual, passive screening, looking for coughing and such.  As of today, no reports of anyone being turned back.  Other countries use infrared scanners looking for fever or physical screening checking for symptoms.  The Mexican, US border at El Paso, Texas is the busiest border crossing in the world.  Our government claims it would be difficult to do any other type of screening.

[Michael K (Az.)]

A couple of things from the medical front. Dr's are saying with this person to person contamination, it becomes a moot point where something has come from as it will be spread through out.
Good news, Dr's say that all the early studies they have been able to do indicates symptoms are like your standard, everyday flu. Still tough but not untreatable.

I understand.  I have been known to over react, particularly when frustrated with what the government has done, and not done, in the near past. 
State Rep. Solomon Ortiz, Jr. (generally considered to be a worthy lawmaker) emails his constituents that the flu cases in TX are  "mild"  just days before the report of a fatality in our state.  That was not comforting news.

Over react? Heck, you're a musician! It's what we do!!

[fiddle mike]

The Mexicans who cross into US legally are, supposedly, screened for flu symptoms. 

This is just a visual, passive screening, looking for coughing and such.  As of today, no reports of anyone being turned back.  Other countries use infrared scanners looking for fever or physical screening checking for symptoms.  The Mexican, US border at El Paso, Texas is the busiest border crossing in the world.  Our government claims it would be difficult to do any other type of screening.

Yeah, God forbid they attempt the difficult.

Brad, a couple of weeks back, Missus and I went out to Padre Island National Seashore.  At  the entry to the park, next to the "guard shack", there had to have been no less than twenty-five cameras of various sizes, some of which were, obviously, taking pictures of every car going in or out.
That's a recreation area with nothing but a pavilion/bath house and sand dunes between the entry and the town of South Padre, over 100 miles to the south. Its one of those things that make me ask, "WTF?"