No, the political correct way is to call it H1N1. But I just heard that the letters "H" and "N" are not happy about this. They tolerated it during the H5N1 avian flu a few years back, but they are now saying "Enough is enough. We letters have feelings too", according to some news reports.

The number "1" cannot be reached for comment at this time.

Sorry I didn't read all of this thread but noted Kathie's suggestion that if you got sick in VN to go to Thailand for treatment. Made me wonder.

Suppose you did have the flu and showed up at immigration at BKK coming off of a plane from SGN. You look sick, perspiring heavily, coughing stuff up, maybe throw up. What are they going to do with you?

They'll most likely send you to a quarantine ward at a Bangkok hospital.

Mr, W,. if you were that ill, I expect they wouldn't let you on the plane. Nor should you fly and expose all of those passengers to your illness. If you have med evac insurance, they would likely get you to Bangkok from VN (in such a way that you didn't expose a hundred people to your illness). If you have a minor illness or accident in VN, use one of the SOS clinics. I know there is one in Hanoi and one in HCMC. I don't know if there are others.

Kathie, I took you literally when you wrote "get myself to Bangkok".

rkkwan- very witty. I think the number 1 is beside himself on this issue.

Who else here thinks that the swine flu situation has been hyped into the stratosphere? The media would have us believe this is the Great Flood. Meanwhile, 36,000 Americans will die from the seasonal flu that strikes each winter. Where's the proportionality? For more ranting, check out http://travelvaccineforum.wordpress....om-a-doorknob/

Take a lok at this artice for a more balanced view:

www.nytimes.com/2009/05/05/health/05well.html

Agree that New York Times article is a good piece. You may have also noticed their front page article today on the extent that Mexico and its citizens are being stigmatized.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/05/wo...0stigma&st=cse

Then, read the 'doorknob' link 2 comments above.

I did read your "doorknob" link. I was disappointed in the lack of content on your site, as I was expecting a good review of what we know about the influenza and influenza transmission as well as info about how this virus differs and why there is concern about it. The NYT article offers this info.

And of course, people can get influenza from a doorknob or other surface previously touched by someone with the virus. As I'm sure you remember, there was a significant cluster of people who contracted SARS this way in a Hong Kong hotel. While you do eventually say that, given the title of this blog entry, I would have thought you'd want to answer the question upfront, rather than meandering though myths not relevant to the question. Hand washing is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of upper respiratory viruses.

The 'doorknob' piece primarily dealt with how irrational myths arise and can become considered as fact. For example, many countries have banned the importation of pork, despite that scientists explain that influenza A(H1N1), formerly known as swine flu,cannot be transmitted in this manner. China is now rounding up visiting Mexicans, some of whom haven't been in Mexico for months. Many folks in our country wanted our border to be sealed, which would not have had any meaninful medical benefit to Americans. Incidentally, while it is theoretically possible to contract influenza from a contaminated surface, the majority of infections are contracted by inhalation. Certainly agree with the value of handwashing with as well as isolating yourself if you have flu symptoms.