H1N1

Dylan,

The flu bug has gotten a lot of attention this year, even though we've yet to reach the traditional "flu season". Reasons include an especially virulent strain, high profile cases in Mexico -- including some deaths --, an atypical demographic impact pattern, and a scary but catchy nickname: Swine flu.

We got a call from your school Saturday morning letting us know that a student who had been at your school all week (though in the other classroom) had received confirmation of the Influenza-A/H1N1/Swine Flu virus at 8pm Friday night.

You made it through the weekend okay, but slept 12 hours last night and woke up this morning (Monday) with a fever.

I have to note here that since it takes 1-2 days to confirm H1N1 after a blood draw, if that student really was at school "all week" as we were told, somebody seriously dropped the ball there.

Mom stayed home with you this morning and I'm home for the afternoon (and probably working from home all week, as it's likely that I'm already exposed and would sure like to avoid spreading it at the office). Your doctor cleared both Mom and I to go to work as long as we're asymptomatic, but I think everybody's glad to let me WFH.

So far, you're taking the virus pretty well. You've been going to your room of your own accord when you feel tired, and then sleeping for extended periods. You were up just long enough this afternoon to take your meds, watch a Thomas video, and get your temp taken again: 101.2. You're taking acetaminophen, and just started Tamiflu (oseltamivir) which could hopefully shorten your symptomatic period by 12-36 hours. We'll see.

Dad