In Colorado, the H1N1 Swine Flu and what the Vail Valley is doing about it.

A lot is happening on the H1N1 front and it continues to dominate the headlines. The travel industry remains on alert so hotels must stay in the loop.  Clearly concerns are high and information can be contradictory. Recently MSNBC released a review on their web site. There seems to be a BAD NEWS/GOOD NEWS flavor to it all. In BAD NEWS, last week, a White House advisory panel issued a report saying that 60-120 million Americans could become infected this fall and winter and as many as 90,000 could die. But more GOOD NEWS soon followed a day later, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the agency tasked with protecting public health, said that was highly unlikely. There was BAD NEWS last spring when travelers were discouraged from going to Mexico which had a startling impact on airlines and hotels.

The GOOD NEWS is that no one at any level is currently discouraging travel for anyone in good health. In a report of more GOOD NEWS, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently reported that rates of H1N1 infection are currently declining in North America, Europe and much of the southern hemisphere (although rising in tropical Asia). The decline in South America, in particular, is considered an indicator of the virus’ potential impact in the U.S. this fall. Ned Cologne Chief Medical Officer of the The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has recently emphasized the importance of separating sick people from those non-infected (a good reason for a house call instead of traveling to a doctor?) and the need to  send sick people home from school or work to avoid exposing others.

In the end, the best advice may have come a long time ago from one of my favorite author’s, Doug Adams, in The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy when he wrote on the cover, “DON’T PANIC!”  What if I have other questions? Submit questions to us at info@alpinemobilephysicians.com.  We will attempt to answer all, and we will feature the best questions or comments in the next newsletter.  Of course if you or your guests ever have a question that is immediately important, don’t hesitate to call on our doctor line:  970 376 8376.

Alpine Mobile Physicians . . . more than just a House Call Service. . .    A complete source of medical care, medical information,  and medical referral throughout the Vail Valley.