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Advance team member might have flu

Posted by Foon Rhee, deputy national political editor April 30, 2009 02:09 PM

The swine flu outbreak could be hitting close to home for the Obama administration, spokesman Robert Gibbs disclosed this afternoon.

A member of the advance team for President Obama's trip earlier this month to Mexico has flu-like symptoms, but others in the delegation are fine and without any symptoms.

The staffer never flew on Air Force One, and though he was at a working dinner attended by Obama, never came within six feet of the president, Gibbs said.

Gibbs said the security staffer for Energy Secretary Stephen Chu arrived in Mexico on April 13, began to feel ill on April 16, returned to the United States on April 18, and returned to work at the department on April 20.

Three family members have since come down with the flu, and tested probable for the new swine flu virus on April 28, Gibbs said. They "suffered mild to moderate symptoms, received no medication, were not hospitalized, and have recovered," he said.

The Centers for Disease Control is conducting further tests. Gibbs said the staffer did not test positive, but probably because so much time had elapsed. He has recovered and has been cleared by doctors to return to work, Gibbs said.

Neither Obama nor Chu has had any flu symptoms, Gibbs said. And given how much time has passed from the Mexico trip, it's "highly, highly, highly unlikely" that anyone in the US delegation was infected, Gibbs said.

It's the second flu scare from the Mexico trip. Earlier this week, the White House had to quell speculation because a Mexican official who shook hands with Obama died. The White House issued a statement from the Mexican embassy saying that the official did not die of swine flu.

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Any time anyone repeats themselves such as "highly, highly, highly unlikely," it's a sure bet that what they really meant to say was "most probably."

Posted by manny April 30, 09 03:01 PM
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ABC news should really be referring to this virus as Influenza H1N1. Calling it "swine flu" creates all sorts of incorrect assumptions with potentially devastating implications.

Posted by oldpal April 30, 09 03:04 PM
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This is a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. The government will either be criticized as too careful, or as being careless for not taking it more seriously. What's strange is so many deaths in Mexico, but none anywhere else. If it wasn't for that, I'd say it's just the flu going around. But something weird is up and we need to figure out what.

Posted by charles April 30, 09 03:14 PM
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Boy, we're just looking for panic everywhere in our daily lives. 257 confirmed cases worldwide, and people just can't wait to think the worst.

Posted by Brendan April 30, 09 03:14 PM
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(Could we be so lucky that he infected all of Washington?) And what about all the dopey college students who went to Mexico for Spring Break? Couple more highlys that none of them were infected either. Or the thousands that cross our border very day illegally...wouldn't want to cut into tha growing D voting block..

Posted by aaaaa aaahchooo April 30, 09 03:41 PM
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Actually the flu should be renamed the "Mexican Flu" -- it is ground zero after all.

Posted by Tom April 30, 09 03:42 PM
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I prefer to call it "swine flu", since a mass boycott of pork products would result in fewer swine being produced and less swine farms, therby significantly reducing the overall risk that a similar swine flu would be transmitted in the future. It is also healthier to eat less meat and reduces the suffering of swine. A win, win, win. The only victims would be the swine farmers, but since they represent less than 1/1000 of 1% of the population, it seems like the health and safety of the 99.9999% would trump their temporary unemployment.

Posted by andrew April 30, 09 03:50 PM
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Were there this many naming complaints about the bird flu? Were countries eradicating chicken populations and shooting down songbirds? Geez, this is crazy.

I have a proposal though - since this flu contains components of swine flu and bird flu, I propose we name it "Flying Pig" flu.

Posted by Mike S April 30, 09 04:22 PM
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YEAH OK SO WHAT DID HE DIE OF THEN? DID THE DRUG CARTELS KILL HIM?

Posted by TRAGIK21 April 30, 09 04:47 PM
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