Am I paranoid or does everyone think I have swine flu?

geegollygosh · Aug 26th, 2009, 00:10

So I've been noticing that as I walk down the street, people sometimes cover their face with a handkerchief as I walk by. Is this because I am obviously not Indian and they think I have swine flu because I am a foreigner? Or am I imagining things?

Maybe I just look very dirty and they don't want to breath in the dust around me?

cityMONK · Aug 26th, 2009, 00:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by geegollygosh

So I've been noticing that as I walk down the street, people sometimes cover their face with a handkerchief as I walk by. Is this because I am obviously not Indian and they think I have swine flu because I am a foreigner? Or am I imagining things?

Maybe I just look very dirty and they don't want to breath in the dust around me?

take your bath daily on regular basis, and if in some humid part of india twice a day is recomendation.this way you will feel fresh will not look dirty at all.

Nick-H · Aug 26th, 2009, 00:27

PLEASE, everybody in this thread... wear a mask!

geegollygosh · Aug 26th, 2009, 00:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by cityMONK

take your bath daily on regular basis, and if in some humid part of india twice a day is recomendation.this way you will feel fresh will not look dirty at all.

Oh, I do. I was just kidding... I probably look a little more sweaty than most people, but I don't think I look dirty. Which leads me to the conclusion that people think that I am carrying the plague.

cityMONK · Aug 26th, 2009, 20:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by geegollygosh

Oh, I do. I was just kidding... I probably look a little more sweaty than most people, but I don't think I look dirty. Which leads me to the conclusion that people think that I am carrying the plague.

thank god that you were kidding.
people in india are not racial of kind you are thinking.
may be people are taking precuations dur to scare of flu.

any way where in india you are placed right now.

Nick-H · Aug 26th, 2009, 20:49

I felt ill on Monday; slightly feverish... slight throat pain... slight chest pain...

I was genuinely worried, but, by Tuesday it had gone.

Must have been only piglet flu!

vajrakaya · Aug 26th, 2009, 20:58

How are things in india with swine flu? Do you really think I should wear a mask if I'm going in a week?

Nick-H · Aug 26th, 2009, 21:01

It seems to be on the rise.

That's only my impression from the newspapers.

capt_mahajan · Aug 26th, 2009, 21:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by geegollygosh

So I've been noticing that as I walk down the street, people sometimes cover their face with a handkerchief as I walk by.

Another foreigner told me that recently. So, yep, they think that they have a higher chance of catching swine flu from a foreigner- even if s/he may have already been in India for a few months!

mira4bai4 · Aug 26th, 2009, 21:51

My wife and I often wear face masks. My wife wears a surgical mask and does suffer from bronchial asthma. I wear a simple spray painting and dust mask.

We live in a grubby part of the world where it is extremely polluted and heavily congested, so prevention of all sorts of things is a good idea at this time of year. Actually for the next 6 months it will needed.

Interestingly when walking pass people they give us the evil eye and do murmur swine flu, cover their faces and even move away from us. Great in queues at the Metro. It is interesting that many people put a handkerchief over their nose and mouth for dust and pollution, heaps of foreigners, especially Japanese wear masks in Paharganj. Actually I was on the Metro the other day, took my mask off so as not to panic people, then saw this guy dripping in sweat, cloths soaked so I put my mask on and thought, maybe I should have given it to him. Thankfully my stop was the next one. One wonders though.

Often I do stop and talk to these panicky people, tell them that I don't have the dreaded SF, but suggest that they think about masks if they are so concerned about getting it. There are to many bugs out there and such high pollution anyway, the air through my mask smells so much sweeter.

Haylo · Aug 27th, 2009, 00:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by vajrakaya

Do you really think I should wear a mask if I'm going in a week?

No.

According to UK government information, wearing a mask of the type generally available to the public, and even wearing the professional types without special training in their correct use actually increases your risk of catching swine flu.

If you are not prepared to maintain an airtight seal, and throw the mask away, wash your hands, and put on a fresh one every time you touch it, and every time you remove it to eat or smoke or to blow your nose, it is pointless anyway.

vajrakaya · Aug 27th, 2009, 00:57

Thanks Haylo!

Prashant.M · Aug 27th, 2009, 14:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

PLEASE, everybody in this thread... wear a mask!

Ok I got my Zorro mask on! What next?

brishti · Aug 27th, 2009, 15:08

cape ? for extra cover
sword [?]
hmmm...

glad you're up and about again nick i doubt the swine'd get you.
:brishti

vajrakaya · Aug 27th, 2009, 19:24

After reading this thread I went to a bookstore (drinking coffee, listening to led zeppelin and reading lots of India guides is actually quite fun)... and there was this girl by my side that wouldn't stop coughing!
I almost freaked out looking at her (why wouldn't she cover her freaking mouth?!)

anyway, you got me scared!

Aug 26th, 2009, 00:10	#1
geegollygosh Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 4	Am I paranoid or does everyone think I have swine flu? So I've been noticing that as I walk down the street, people sometimes cover their face with a handkerchief as I walk by. Is this because I am obviously not Indian and they think I have swine flu because I am a foreigner? Or am I imagining things? Maybe I just look very dirty and they don't want to breath in the dust around me?

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Aug 26th, 2009, 00:27	#3
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,225	PLEASE, everybody in this thread... wear a mask!

Aug 26th, 2009, 20:49	#6
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,225	I felt ill on Monday; slightly feverish... slight throat pain... slight chest pain... I was genuinely worried, but, by Tuesday it had gone. Must have been only piglet flu!

Aug 26th, 2009, 20:58	#7
vajrakaya Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Posts: 14	How are things in india with swine flu? Do you really think I should wear a mask if I'm going in a week?

Aug 26th, 2009, 21:01	#8
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,225	It seems to be on the rise. That's only my impression from the newspapers.

Aug 26th, 2009, 21:51	#10
mira4bai4 Lost in Space Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: ND PaharGanj Permanently/Temporarily Posts: 1,245	My wife and I often wear face masks. My wife wears a surgical mask and does suffer from bronchial asthma. I wear a simple spray painting and dust mask. We live in a grubby part of the world where it is extremely polluted and heavily congested, so prevention of all sorts of things is a good idea at this time of year. Actually for the next 6 months it will needed. Interestingly when walking pass people they give us the evil eye and do murmur swine flu, cover their faces and even move away from us. Great in queues at the Metro. It is interesting that many people put a handkerchief over their nose and mouth for dust and pollution, heaps of foreigners, especially Japanese wear masks in Paharganj. Actually I was on the Metro the other day, took my mask off so as not to panic people, then saw this guy dripping in sweat, cloths soaked so I put my mask on and thought, maybe I should have given it to him. Thankfully my stop was the next one. One wonders though. Often I do stop and talk to these panicky people, tell them that I don't have the dreaded SF, but suggest that they think about masks if they are so concerned about getting it. There are to many bugs out there and such high pollution anyway, the air through my mask smells so much sweeter.

Aug 27th, 2009, 00:57	#12
vajrakaya Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Posts: 14	Thanks Haylo!

Aug 27th, 2009, 15:08	#14
brishti disMember Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: india Posts: 3,690	cape ? for extra cover sword [?] hmmm... glad you're up and about again nick* i doubt the swine'd get you.* :brishti

Aug 27th, 2009, 19:24	#15
vajrakaya Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Posts: 14	After reading this thread I went to a bookstore (drinking coffee, listening to led zeppelin and reading lots of India guides is actually quite fun)... and there was this girl by my side that wouldn't stop coughing! I almost freaked out looking at her (why wouldn't she cover her freaking mouth?!) anyway, you got me scared!