Is that you "Mass Media causing hysteria?"

the swine flu appears to be a moderate form of flu at this point, although extremely contagious. From what i;ve seen in the online vic press, they are more likely to move away from mass quarantining, to treatment of those close to those who have contracted the disease.

It was reported in the media yesterday here in Melbourne that there was a high probability of upgrading the status from "contain" which is quarantine (close schools etc) up to the "sustain" level which is only immediate family quarantine. If they change the status all schools will re-open.

If you want the classics to be cancelled what about the AFL??? What about shopping centres??? Currently although contagious it is not anymore debilitating than the normal influenza A virus we see every flu season.

If it looks like a PIG and sneezes like a PIG...

It's probably a PIG!

Everything is fine in VIC. People get the flu every year and so far the swine flu in australia has not proven to be as bad as the normal flu.

The media has a lot to answer for IMO.

From the VJBL website and how they are tackling the problem: http://linky.com.au/wgiyx

Anonymous; NOBODY who currently has swine flu in Australia will die from it.

The only reason there have been deaths caused by swine flu overseas is that people who caught the disease had no access to any medical care whatsoever. Swine flu symptoms are LESS dangerous then normal flu symptoms in terms of severity and potential for casualties.

The whole reason for the quarantine in Victoria is to try and prevent the H1N1 virus from mutating into something that we can't deal with. This may happen if someone with a nasty bout of the normal flu also contracts a strain of swine flu. So if your kid already has some form of the flu, then I wouldn't suggest that you let them come down for the Classics. If not, the worst that can happen will be they contract the disease and are stuck in Victoria for 7 days quarantine.

Anonymous

Currently as of the this morning only 3 of the 306 confirmed cases of Victoria Swine flu needed hospitalisation. These admissions are far less than normal influenza

Kids and aged people are more susceptible to death from flu anyway, so to say that kids have died from it doesn't mean this is any more damaging than a normal flu.

Really the bottom line is if your worried, dont go!! Simple.

There a 4 million things that can kill you each day. Dont leave your house it safer :)

There is an email flying around warning that no-one eats canned ham in Victoria, it contains the swine flu bacteria.

Please ignore this email
it is just SPAM

there's over 10,000 confirmed cases in all 50 states with 17reported deaths. And you guys worrying over there because?

I noticed that at least 1 if not more SA teams have pulled out of Nunawading (Woodville 12A Boys for one).

Are the teams pulling out because of the very minimal threat of swine flu or is it something else?

At this late stage it wont be cancelled. As someone said.... cancel the classics, then cancel every major sporting event or concert as well.

This is mass hysteria.

Mexico City, population of approx 20 million and they have a little over 100 people die from swine flu?

Ill take those odds!

Of course the tournament will not be cancelled, however it would be good to know why certain SA team(s) have pulled out.

As of 12:01 Victoria has up graded its alert level from "contain" to "sustain":

UPDATE 12:01pm: VICTORIA is officially Australia's swine flu capital, with our alert level now higher than the rest of the country.

Health Minister Nicola Roxon announced Victoria's pandemic alert level had been raised to "sustain", meaning the flu response will be kept, but the number of cases is beyond a level that can be contained.

But Ms Roxon said the Government had decided not to cancel sporting events or mass gatherings, which would normally occur under the new stage.

The State of Origin rugby league match between NSW and Queensland on Wednesday night will go ahead, Ms Roxon said.

Victoria has been the state hardest hit by the swine flu, with three quarters of the country's more than 500 confirmed cases

All players will be required to wear masks and latex gloves while playing

Tournament is going ahead. Decision has been made and communicated to all clubs concerned.

Don't allow the "mass media hysteria" impact on your plans.

ok what about mildura. Thats in victoria, or is the concern just about melbourne

BSA will not make a decision, they have left it to the Clubs to make their mind up, its a State Body that has no "BODY"

Appreciate the concern and the issue SA teams, players and parents now appear to be facing.

The tournament will not be cancelled. The thing is now for the SA teams to decide if they still go or not. It would be easier if BSA made a decision for one and all, but let's face it - it 'aint going to happen!

Rang Mark Hubbards mobile for his opinion considering next weekend i won't allow my kids to take the court against any team who competed there, which will throw the local comp into disaray!
Unfortunately it was turned off so i couldn't get his opinion!
Will be interesting what decision he comes up with when next weekend, when it is fall of forfeits, considering the federal government is recomending anyone who travels to Melbourne put themselves in quarantine for 7 days {sorry not everyone just school aged children}
So for the sake of the Victorians making a few dollars out of us this weekend, what does this state sacrifice for the following several after this debarcle?
Someone should step up and make a decision instead of palming it off

I guess he wont be bothered if your kid doesn't play!!!

As far as Mildura carnival is concerned we have no reported cases of swine flu in the region. I believe all cases are in the Melbourne metro area. Mildura is 2 hours closer to Adelaide than what it is to Melbourne. Mildura is ok

How ridiculous. 300 cases in a city of 4 million people and now kids can't to Melbourne for the long weekend without a 7 day quarantine when they get home??? Seriously, people.

Yes, people are getting sick. If you have flu-like symptoms, see your doctor. If not, live your life.

In the meantime, all flights should be cancelled while they investigate the cause of the problems on Air France flight 447, and nobody should be allowed to drive until 2010 because the road toll's higher than it has been for the last 4 years.

Coming back from overseas the other week, they had everyone on the plane complete a health declaration. Those with certain symptoms were ushered to the front of the plane, given masks and then removed first. All after they'd already been seated in close proximity to everyone else for 5-6 hours.

That being the case the government is not serious about containment they would not have let the plane back into Australia and should have had it sorted out at the other end. So if there was swine flu on that plane how many would have caught it and spread it to the community already. It is out there whether they like it or not - how long will these measures go on for....indefinitely??

Why quarantine a ship off the coast of Australia then?

Mildura apparently you are not safe, the people that caught swine flu in SA had been holidaying in mildura?? The swine flu hotline I rang them, and they are also advising if you go to mildura, then keep the kids home for 7 days after returning.

So did kids play and have a week off, all getting too hard I think

Because it is half measures - their contingency for this is not consistent - quarantine a ship but let planes carrying people with suspected swine flu into the country and the fact that they possibly may have infected dozens on the plane is ignored!!

To be fair, they might have quarantined the plane if any were suspected as carriers once checked, but it was only a voluntary thing: there was one woman who looked like she was about to die who didn't declare any symptoms (didn't want to get held up by checks) and had to be almost pushed forward.

FFS people. The swine flu that is occuring in Melbourne is no more potent than normal influenza A.

Get a grip.

#455,

"no doubt from this weekend's classics Adelaide will have an escalation in the disease."

It will go through the population here whether or not we go to the Classics. So What! It is not even as virulent as seasonal flu. In fact if it does go through the population it will give us all a greater immunity to any mutant strain that results.

"Both the State health dept and the state education dept have asked for kids not to go to Melbourne"

Of course they have. We live in a "nanny" state and they are the nannies!

"the fact that BSA has not directed clubs to follow this advice will come back to bite this inept body"

I think this is the best decision that BSA has ever made. Give people the information, let them make their own informed decision. I for one am glad that BSA hasn't joined the nanny brigade. Well done BSA!

You only think they are inept as they have made a decision you disagree with. It sounds like you want somebody else to make the decision for you so you don't have to take any responsibility.

Rediculous.

What about siblings who don't go to Melbourne, will they be banned from school.

What about teachers who go to Melbourne, will they be banned from going to work? And if so who will pay their entitlments?

It is a soft response giving people the chance to make their own decisions so the government can not be held financially responsible for peoples decisions.

#455

"i hope BSA have good insurance" FFS for what reason???

Maybe your government bodies should just govern rather than run scare campaigns!!!

What about the 30 flights a day that are landing in Adelaide from Melbourne carrying 100+ passengers per trip????????

Hell of a lot more chance of contracting the disease that way than 20 teams of 10 traveling to a basketball tournament!!!!!!

My goodness, maybe its time to actually live in the real world.

More like 50 teams but I agree.

Classics has 36+ teams from SA by itself.

True sebastion, if the swine flu is that deadly then stop everything otherwise everyone should just live your normal lives. Make a decision and stop making a fuss

If BSA 'directed' all teams not to go to Victoria, who would be expected to compensate for accomodation, airfares, forfeits etc associated with such a decision. There are numerous calls for BSA to make a decision. If they chose 'no', wait for the squealing and financial claims to begin.
If my team does not travel this weekend,why should they be penalised with no game next weekend?

hangin round, why would they be penalised with no game? If games are postponed they will be played at a later date. My guess is that will be what BSA do for all junior games next weekend.

And this in today's The Age website:

http://linky.com.au/uu20b

Victorian Premier John Brumby has described a decision to quarantine children returning to most states from Victoria as "bizarre'.

This comes after NSW, Queensland and South Australia announced yesterday that children returning from Victoria would be kept out of school for seven days due to the swine flu outbreak in the state.

"I think that is the most bizarre thing I have ever seen, or heard, or read in my life,' Mr Brumby told Radio 3AW this morning.

"It is completely contrary to all of the advice of the Australian Health Protection Committee.'

Latest from BSA. No Games next weekend.

Basketball SA District Competition

Following on from the email yesterday informing clubs about the latest news from the South Australian and Victorian governments about the swine flu alerts, Basketball SA would like to inform all that we have made a decision to postpone all junior district basketball games scheduled for next week on Thursday, Friday and Saturday (11, 12, 13 June 2009).

Basketball SA is aware that there are a number of teams that are attending the tournaments in Melbourne this weekend and therefore we need to prepare for the likely outcome that a number of people will be under a self imposed 7-day quarantine (as per the Dept of Health recommendation). Given this, there would be a significant number of teams that may not be able to participate in the scheduled district games.

Whilst we recognize that this decision may inconvenience participants that are not visiting Melbourne, we believe that it is a responsible action for the good of the district basketball community.

Our competitions staff will endeavor to inform everyone of the dates and times for the rescheduling of the postponed games as soon as possible.

Finally...good stuff.

Can someone puleese exploin why my kids have to stay home from school and yet I have been told it is ok for me to return to work. I have just been home all day with them as I am on leave for one day. How does this work, my risk of catching the swine flu from them or anyone else in Melbourne if they have it is just as great, my eldest boy who did not go to Melbourne is in close contact with them as well and is ok to go to school?? Is this not ludicrous?

Spotted out and about one of the kids that was in Melbourne on the weekend in full school uniform - obviously her school has not made the ban compulsory,,, but seeing as the kids dad is a Doctor got to question what is the reasoning behind that family's decision to send her to school

So, did anyone from SA who went to the classics actually get swine flu?

An Under 12 Girl from Sturt who went to Melbourne has been confirmed with swine flu!

Just out of curiosity Interested (who appears to be in the know) - did she play at MSAC or Nunawading tourny??

Come on Interested - you make a statement then dont back it up with facts or are you just a stirrer - stirring the pot???

There have been more people with whooping cough in Adelaide including those that play basektball in the past. And trust me that is way worse than swine flu

239441:
From the Health Dept (5 June):
"118 cases of influenza were reported this week, compared to 35 last week. This activity is consistent with a marked increase in laboratory testing for influenza."

That means that there aren't more people with flu than last year around this time, but people get themselves tested rather than staying in bed and sweating it out for a couple of days.

Swine flu: Big media/govt hype.
Laughing their butt off: Hoffmann-La Roche.

Doh

I suggest you ask someone from Sturt and I am sure they will confirm.

SA has had first case hospitalised but of more concern is that Melbourne has five cases in intensive care - that is LIFE SUPPORT, not just high dependency nursing. Tamiflu anyone?

Hope that your not going anywhere the 1000+ people who are getting of the aeroplanes from Melbourne each day are going. You might get the flu as well.

(Mod: "Allegedly been confirmed"? Please wait while I seek confirmation or denial of this.)

One club with a confirmed swine flu case (quarantined and OK) and another club yet to confirm but believed to have a player or players in a similar situation. As I understand it, BSA has been notified and, in the case of the first club, their members have been alerted.

Any person naming players in relation to this will cop an immediate ban. Please trust that clubs are taking this seriously and dealing with it appropriately.

Anyone know if the Yr 12 westminster boy went to school after Melbourne??

Sorry to point out the obvious, but BSA didn't "send" anyone to the Classics, teams nominate themselves through their clubs.

Stop looking to blame others. Any parent that took or allowed their kid to visit Melbourne over the long week end was totally irresponsible. Its about time people put the sport into perspective and thought of kids and their welfare first and not play sport through their kids. BSA are incompetent we all know that but don't blame them this time.

And it's about time some people put swine flu into perspective. You've got more chance of catching any kind of bug sitting on a bus on the way to school or work.

Perhaps Victorian Melbourne were irresponsible in letting the event go ahead? I have no parents that live their dreams through their kids, so perhaps they are just not as paranoid as others. And if you say these parents are irresponsible what do you call the Victorian government that has said it won't close the schools etc from now on? It is the flu, nothing more!

021, By lead you actually mean "be seen to be doing something even if its wrong". In this case BSA and BV did the right thing by not bowing to the hysterics. IT'S THE FLU ONLY NOT AS BAD! JFK said "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself". If you want to live your life in a bubble then fine, but myself and the vast majority of people don't want to be in there with you!

PERHAPS at the END of the day PARENTS should TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. No wonder you are a backward state.
STOP WHINGINGout what you could have changed. Get over it........Move on............Go cats

Darren Ng on swine flu:

It's been very busy lately in the hospital, especially with the whole Swine Flu thing. For everyone out there  it is really no different to the normal flu, except that it is more infectious. i.e. more people will catch it. The mortality rate is the same if not less than the average flu that circulates each year.

Tonights Late News - Swine flu is now not to be as serious as everyone thought - no more quarantine for those that have it - no more major sporting events will be cancelled. Tamiflu only to be given to those thought to be "at risk".

The 2009 Junior Classics to be commonly known as "The Swine Flu Classics" oink oink!!