Flu - Regular seasonal and Swine. Effect on your plans to visit FSU

[Mars]

Those planning trips to FSU in the next few months should probably give some extra consideration to the flu situation.

Not meaning to sound like a fear monger, but some precaution is probably necessary, extra so this year.

Yes, I know that thousands die each year from the standard flu and that more die from auto accidents than from the flu, etc., etc.

However, all this will be little comfort to you if you are sick during a major part of your trip.

So at a minimum it seems that pre-visit you should have injection for protection against standard seasonal flu.

And, if possible, injection for protection against swine flu.  This is in short supply now and probably most here do not qualify currently.  However, in coming weeks and months there will probably be enough for all who wish to receive it.

The reason I think it is more important this year than ever before is that the flu seems to be more rampant than usual in many of the FSU countries and the citizens there are less likely to have received injection protection.  The same will apply ten fold to protection against swine flu.  Thus a traveler will have a much higher exposure rate than previously.

The bad news is that, even if you cover yourself entirely re precaution against seasonal and swine flu, there is a strong chance that the woman (women) you plan to meet will be ill at some point during your visit.