Swine Flu Map (North America)

Click here for a swine flu map of North America along with the latest details of the epidemic. It's from http://www.epidemicflu.com/.

Here's a link to CDC's Swine Flu page.

The road sign image at the top is from CruiseCritic.com's swine flu update page, also worth checking out.

Hygiene on the High Seas

PLEASE NOTE: Swine flu is in the news right now, leading me to repeat this post from January 25, 2008. In addition to info about staying healthy on a cruise there are some interesting links to the Centers for Disease Control and epidemics. Back in 2008 we were worried about bird flu now it's swine flu. Go wash your hands.

When we go on cruises we do everything possible to avoid travel-related illness, like the Norwalk virus (Norovirus).

We pack Wet Ones moist wipes, Lysol spray, Purell hand sanitizer and a pump bottle of Equate, Walmart's anti-bacterial liquid hand soap, for the cabin's bathroom. In addition, we always use the hand sanitizer stations found at every eating establishment throughout the ship. And we are very careful what we eat, drink or touch when on shore excursions.

So I was pleased to run across the following links about healthy cruising from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

You can read about their Vessel Sanitation Program and the results of the periodic inspections -- with scores, reports and what corrective actions were demanded.

The CDC also has a list of cruising tips to help you stay healthy on your cruise vacation. And health news and alerts for travelers in general.

If all this information about shipboard health and sanitation isn't enough for you, check out their links to the latest news on bird flu and other pandemics.

I am back home and blogging again

Two weeks ago today I had surgery on my left knee -- the Total Knee Replacement. I am doing fine after four nights in the hospital followed by five more at a rehab facility. I have been home since last Saturday.

I can get around using a walker, ride in the car and do some physical therapy. And I rest a lot. Because there was also some ligament repair necessary I am wearing a rather large leg brace for the next six weeks or so.

Despite being addled by drugs most of the time, I managed to keep a daily journal of this medical adventure. I will start posting it soon.

Flu Shots for the 2008-2009 Season

"Ouch!"

Yesterday we got our flu shots. It's a fall ritual like Halloween and raking leaves. We went to Pensacola's Professional Health Examiners -- a one-stop service where you can get flu shots and paternity tests right in the neighborhood. Our real reason to go there is that we can get our shots and be on our way in about five minutes. Try that at Walgreens or the doctor's office.

There's lots of flu information at the Centers for Disease Control website and specific information from them about the coming 2008-2009 flu season. We will find out during the peak of flu season, in January and February, if "they" picked the right formula to fend off this winter's flu bugs.

Still have flu questions? Click and read Seattle's excellent Flu FAQs.

Seasickness Remedies

Because we go on a lot of cruises, we often get asked by friends, family and even strangers, "Do you ever get seasick?" No, we have never gotten seasick, but someday we might, so we sail prepared.

There are two remedies we always take with us when we cruise. One is a prescription drug, Transderm Scop (Scopolamine). It's a small patch you wear behind your ear. The effects last for three days. You see many people on the ship wearing these patches.

Modern cruise ships are so stable that seasickness is rare, but even old sea captains get it sometimes -- after years on the sea with no problems.

We also pack a box of another drug that's helpful, Bonine (Meclizine). It is a non-drowsy version of Dramamine and you do not need a prescription to buy it. It's a chewable tablet and works quickly. It is also useful for dizzyness and other kinds of motion sickness.

There are a lot of other medications and folk remedies people use to avoid and/or treat seasickness. Here's what About.com has to say about many kinds of seasickness remedies.

A post from January 2008 about staying healthy on cruises listed what we do to avoid getting the dreaded Norovirus and other shipboard illnesses. Click here to read it.

My blog is working. Do flu shots work?

The blog is still up and running I am happy to say. I have no idea what I did to break the original. And no idea of how to avoid it happening again. Not one further word from Blogger to help me out so far either.

I did get myself to Pensacola Junior College early Wednesday morning for my flu shot. The shots were scheduled from 9:00 A.M. until 1:00 P.M. I got there at 8:30 to be at the front of the line. The nurses were just setting up in the Student Center. One of them said they were ready and handed me a form to fill out, took my $25 and stuck me with a needle. I was out of there 30 minutes before they were scheduled to begin.

Do the shots work? I hear that in some years the protection in the shot is not effective for this year's variety of flu. The health officials said get the shot. First it would probably keep you from getting the winter's flu. Also, as a bonus, by avoiding the coming flu you would be stronger and more able to handle the bird flu pandemic, if and when we have the bird flu pandemic. Perhaps.

Funny thing at Pensacola Junior College, unlike every other community college I ever heard of, there appear to be no parking problems. If you are a student or work there you need a parking decal. Apparently it's free.