Google Map of reported swine flu cases

Link here. This is the map as of this evening:

H1N1 Swine flu in 2009
Pink markers are suspect
Purple markers are confirmed or probable
Deaths lack a dot in marker
Yellow markers are negative

I’m personally having a hard time assessing the danger. DHS declared a state of emergency. Mexico City closed schools and canceled hundreds of public events. But unless something develops overnight I’ll go to work and the kids will go to school, just like normal.

A year or two ago when the concern was avian flu I bought some N95 masks, a gallon of hand sanitizer and some latex gloves. I’ve still got those, and I ordered some extra masks from Amazon. It’s pretty cheap insurance against this sort of thing. Other than that, I’m glad to have food and other necessities on hand in case there’s an outbreak and we can’t leave the house.

Obviously I hope we won’t need any of these preparations, but I’m glad to have them just in case. Some people talk about panicking during times these like these. I like to think that if you’re prepared you’re less likely to panic.