Sorry, I know these swine flu threads have been done to death - am really just after some other opinions on what you would do in this situation.

My younger sister and I have a trip booked to Melbourne for the weekend of the 26th June. The latest 'swine flu' hysteria has me a little nervous. Not for her or I as such but for our children who we were taking with us. Her DS will be 12 weeks old and mine is 19 months.

I hadn't been too concerned about travelling until this morning when I read the latest reports that suggest VIC has had the worst outbreak to date.

We could delay our trip but we would both stand to lose about $300 (which granted is not the end of the World and naturally there is no price on health blah blah blah).

So, WWYD or WDYT? Are you concerned about swine flu and travelling domestically, visiting shopping malls, using public transport and the like?

TIA.

I still catch the train to work, and do my shopping etc.

Given they are finding that although contagious it is nowhere near as dangerous as they expected, I am not too worried

This swine flu is apparantly quite mild. I don't know, I think there is far too much panic and hysteria going on.

I AM going to P!NK in 3 weeks, I WILL sh*t bricks if it is cancelled! I am also going for a weekend away in Melbourne before that, swine flu won't keep me away, but if I had sick children/low immunity etc, I would probably not go, but as it is grandparents will be looking after them at their home.

Do either of your children/babies have a compromised immune system/asthma/other major health issues?

If no, then I'd still go, if yes, I wouldn't be going.

We're considering pulling DS1 out of kinder for a while as he and DS2 have severe asthma, and DS2 a compromised immune system.

Oh and we live 150kms from melb CBD.

Paulette

At the end of the day the swine flu is in every state and territory in Australia. Yes, Victoria is worst hit, but there is a high population to area there so the figures seem worse then they are.

I would travel, just take precautions, hand sanitiser, take loads of vitamins and echinacea etc and maybe wear your babies so they are not too close to others. And if you are still breast feeding, keep that up too.

Life is too short, enjoy it

We went into Melbourne on the weekend to P!nk, DH was worried about me going with the whole swine flu thing. We just kinda stuck to each other. With all the people there, we didn't see anyone cough, sneeze anything. Not to say, anyone couldn't have been sick.

But I won't stop going anywhere or doing anything.

I'm supposed to be taking DS1 to Melbourne for a camp in the first week of July. I'm holding off booking tickets and accommodations for as long as possible as I am worried the camp will be cancelled.

Other than the fear of the camp be cancelled, I'm OK with travelling to Melbourne. My parents leave on the Pacific Dawn on Thursday -- they've been worried all week that their cruise would either be cancelled or will go ahead and other ports will refuse entry. A month stuck on a cruise ship unable to get off doesn't sound like fun.

Thanks for the quick replies so far

I tend to agree that there is a real hysteria surrounding the issue and honestly it's really just my baby nephew that I'm feeling cautious for.

My DS, whilst still b/fed, can stay home with his Dad and some EBM if it comes to it. Sisters DS on the other hand is demand fed and in any event who wants to leave their 3 month old baby anyway. He is immunised and generally of good health but then at 3 months of age it's also a little hard to tell, right?

.

Hammer. Nail. Head.

I'm not saying ignore it, but there is an awful lot of hysteria.

I'd be going on the trip, and have to admit I haven't changed anything since the swine flu outbreak started.

Kent

I'd still go. I went to Melbourne this last weekend and I don't think even people who live there are hysterical about it; I only saw one guy on the plane wearing a mask and nobody in the city.

Besides, you can't avoid it unless you move into a bio-dome and don't talk to anyone for the rest of the year. I live in a regional town and there have been suspected cases here, so it's not like you're automatically protected by not going anywhere.

re the babies - keep them close to you in a wrap or carrier, don't' let random strangers kiss or touch them, and wash your hands regularly. That's about as far as I'd go TBH.

BTW Mel_Mac, I love your blog. I am 7kg's in to losing a total of 35kg. It is such an inspiration to read your blog.

I would still go. I think this swine flu panic is overrated.

I was actually talking to a doctor (family member of my partner) about this yesterday. We asked if it was really such a big deal and he said basically the flu is no more dangerous than the regular flu (and cited that around 2000 australians die from the flu each year anyway!), but that i was just more contagious. Basically regular flu if 10 people came into contact with someone who had it, on average one would be ill. With swine flu it would be more like 1 in 3.

Just take precautions, don't hang around obviously sick people!

Yes, come to melbourne Mel.

Id love to meet you. We were in the same "due in" group.

mummat - WELL DONE on your weight loss, that is awesome. Thank you for your compliments

Bek - I love Melbourne SO much!! My besty lives in Rosanna (sp) so it's the best excuse ever to visit.

This trip I am coming for the purpose of a massive shopping trip to spend a $2,000 westfield gift voucher I won

Sis and I are staying in the city but are planning our days around trips to the DFO in the city, Bridge Road and Doncaster Westfield. Are you near any of those areas? We could totally organise a get together

Thanks again for all the thoughts guys. Especially the suggestions about carying the bub in a sling - that is a great idea!

Where are you Mel_Mac? I have plenty of baby carriers if you would like to borrow one for the weekend, we are in the ACT though.

mummat - I am in the ACT also Thank you so much for the offer. I'm a bit of a sling fan myself so have about 4 at home - 1 of which I often use to carry my 19 month old

How funny you are in Canberra also! Small world, and of course knowing Canberra we probably have mutual friends

Ha ha, and hardly anyone is in Canberra. We are on the North Side, love it.

I'm North side too

PM me your details if you like and we will have to go for a walk one day. We are in Gungahlin.

I'm pretty close to Doncaster! Hey...and who needs an excuse to visit Bridge Road. It is THE BEST !

I could do either of those!!

When your trip gets abit closer, PM me and we'll organise a catch up.

Luv Bek x