JDPFu.com 2025

During the White House briefing around 1pm ET today, a reporter asked whether we should read anything into the fact that President Obama went golfing during this health crisis. Then they asked over and over about the steps and testing that our President has undertaken.

There are 20 confirmed cases in the USA as I write this and none required hospitalization. Mexico has 80 deaths, so we all want to know what the difference is between USA and Mexican health? Could it be that treatment for this flu in Mexico may be limited in rural locations and it is likely that the person with the flu isn’t completely removed from the infective agent. I don’t know if that is true or not. Most, if not all, people in the US were infected by someone who recently traveled to Mexico.

Duh. The President’s Health is Fine.

The President hasn’t been anywhere near anyone that could have the flu, much less swine flu, so there’s no need for him to get the flu vaccine (if he didn’t already get it a few months ago) or for him to start taking anti-viral medication or take “TheraFlu.” Heck, if I got the flu, I wouldn’t do anything besides eat, rest and shower every other day. I haven’t had the flu in years.

The President is fully connected to his staff at all times. He can be on a conference call in the time it takes to dial the number. He shouldn’t alter his schedule. He isn’t a Medical Doctor. What is he going to do that his staff and existing people in the CDC won’t do anyway? Nothing.

In short, relax folks unless you feel sick AND traveled to Mexico in the last 5 days and visited a location with impacted people or animals. Follow the CDC recommendations
- talk with a doctor if you have flu-like symptoms and could have been exposed
- stay home if you are sick; keep you kids home when they are sick
- wash your hands

I’d be interested in knowing the total number of flu cases today as well. Let’s guess there are 10,000 people in the USA with any form of flu and 20 of them have this version of swine flu. That’s just 0.02%. You are more likely to die an a car accident this year (1:6500). Are you going to stop driving?

Japan Taking Steps

So Japan is using thermal imaging to screen airline flights from the USA. I guess having a higher than normal temp is part of having the flu. While that’s true, I find that having an increased temp at the end of an international flight is common for me … usually because I didn’t get a chance to use the toilet before landing and really, really have to go. Then there isn’t a bathroom available until after customs, at least in 6 countries that I’ve traveled to/from. I recall just Costa Rica having toilets available before customs. There are no direct flights between Mexico and Japan.