So the fear of typhoid teacher walking around thinking s/he's healthy and spreading the flu seems like an unlikely scenario.

Not if the symptoms are mild, as they are in the majority of otherwise-healthy adults.

t edit Say you're a teacher. You don't have many sick days to begin with. You get what seems like bad allergies, or maybe a moderate cold. You take some drugs, suck it up, go to school. If it is, instead, H1N1, you're spreading the virus. It's pretty simple. You spread the virus regardless of whether your symptoms are deceptively mild or whether they're bad enough to land you in the ICU. That's how infectious diseases work.

Um. It's HUGELY contagious. That's why all the worry currently (not [just] in b.org, but everywhere) about the lack of vaccine.

I phrased that wrong. Super was a poor choice. I don't think its proving to be contgeous without droplet or fluid contact. I think some things are -- like typhoid mary not having symptoms and giving the world her cooties -- but H1N1 isn't one of them.

Like Gloom's OB said -- she's safe around someone who doesn't have symptoms even if she's exposed, there aren't silent carriers, are there?

Yes, but when they do they wash their hands and cover their mouths when they cough and sneeze. I don't think H1N1 is proving to be super-congateous.

I have innumerable times witnessed *adults* sneezing into their hands and not running off to wash them. Even otherwise intelligent friends of mine some to whom I've gently suggested that they might want to cough or sneeze into their elbow. Even people you know, Trudy. And in this case, I posit that the plural of anecdote is in fact data. But in case you want an actual study, here: [link]

Much poorer habits were revealed as fewer indicated they always washed their hands after petting a dog or cat (42%), after handling money (21%), and, most shockingly, after coughing or sneezing (32%).

And this is via self-reporting, in which my understanding is that people over-report responsible behavior.

Jesus. People are "bug-chasing" H1N1. [link] Scroll down to "What is CDC’s recommendation regarding "swine flu parties"?

It's not possible to conduct a study on the presentation of a novel virus type, which this version of H1N1 is. I *just* edited a big article about it over the weekend, so I *do* actually know what I'm talking about.

OK. Cool. So there IS data. That was my question. I though Jess was speaking from her personal impression.

Not if the symptoms are mild, as they are in the majority of otherwise-healthy adults.

Wait, but you JUST said "If the infected person comes to work despite having *strong* symptoms, then they can spread the virus."

I'm not trying to be a pain, I'm trying to get facts in line. Can it be spread without strong symptoms? Is the normal handwashing/mouth covering that any responsible adult engages in when expectorating sufficient to prevent transmition?

Is that an impression or is there a study?

That's according to both my pediatrician and my OB, based on the cases they've seen.

So the fear of typhoid teacher walking around thinking s/he's healthy and spreading the flu seems like an unlikely scenario.

The point of vaccinating healthcare workers is, primarily, not to protect them from getting sick. It is to prevent them from inadvertantly passing the flu onto an immunocompromized patient. The same logic ought to apply to anyone in close contact with a high-risk population.

Thanks, erika. Oh, my, the weeping and wailing over Grayson's comment. I guess I can join you in the bad feminist penalty box, since my first reaction to his description of the lobbyist was pretty much, "Aren't they all?"

And I love the surprise penguin story! I wonder what other stories that kid will have to tell? It can't just be, "This one time I stole a penguin."

Wait, but you JUST said "If the infected person comes to work despite having *strong* symptoms, then they can spread the virus."

I know -- I had to edit, because I worded it incorrectly.

I'm not trying to be a pain, I'm trying to get facts in line. Can it be spread without strong symptoms?

Yes.

Is the normal handwashing/mouth covering that any responsible adult engages in when expectorating sufficient to prevent transmition?

Assuming that every adult actually does (or has access to) wash their hands immediately after sneezing/coughing, it will cut down on transmission. Not prevent. Cut down.

But making the assumption that every adult actually washes their hands is a giant assumption. One that, frankly, is incorrect.

Much poorer habits were revealed as fewer indicated they always washed their hands after petting a dog or cat (42%), after handling money (21%), and, most shockingly, after coughing or sneezing (32%).

Good lord. If I washed my hands every time I pet a cat I'd have more chapped skin than Lady MacBeth.

But making the assumption that every adult actually washes their hands is a giant assumption. One that, frankly, is incorrect.

I can't imagine your average public school teacher with 30-40 kids in her class has time to run to the bathroom and wash her hands every time she blows her nose. I mean, Kristin, correct me if I'm wrong, but that just does not seem practical.

Good lord. If I washed my hands every time I pet a cat I'd have more chapped skin than Lady MacBeth.

Well, yes. The point was the coughing/sneezing part.