Our housemaid / nanny has the flu

Jeez. Talk about unlucky! Is it possible to hire someone else for a week to come in and take care of her? You really shouldn't be around her if you're pregnant.

who would accept to take care of a H1N1 suspected patient???

Surely there is someone out there who'd be willing to do it for a few extra Riyal, ask at Hamad. The point is YOU should not be doing it. It would be one thing if you weren't pregnant, but you are, and you're babies life is the most important thing.

If there isn't, would it be possible for your husband to take a few days off work? Technically if she's an H1N1 suspect and he's been around her he should stay home for 7 days anyway.

They handover tamiflu to whoever rushes there with fevor. I hope she has common seasonal flu. Anyhow your husband should also get off for seven days if you discuss this with your doctor to take care and prevent further spread..

not wanting to hijack my own thread... but something made me furious:
the doctor asked her if she works for a Qatari family.
I am not sure what measures they would have taken if she was!!!
I know Qataris have privileges in their own country, and I kind of accept that, but when it comes to health and life threatening issues, we are all human beings, or aren't we?

just explain it to her in a nice way that it would be safer for all of you if she could make more effort in doing proper hygiene so not to spread the flu, i'm sure she would understand....same to you also, take vitamins to avoid getting infected...

yes Jack is right, i have flu in my house now, the helper, my wife and my children thak God i'm still safe,
but giving tamiflu and quarantine is just the protocol in hamad hospital nowadays, don't be scared, just keep the masks for eveyone in your house , not only her, so she won't feel intimidated, and explain to her your concerns
Hope you'll get through this soon.

Yalla!

i suggest you better send her to ospital and confine her there.i think nurses and doctors can take care of her..first of all i understand that you want to take care of your nanny but it will be more worst case if you got also the flu at your condtion you are pregnant it may affect to your pregnancy and second thing you have one kid in your house and we all know that kids imune system are very low...so i know your nanny will understand the case...just visit her frequently in hospital so that she will not feel alone....

Bibo why didnt you ask Hamad to test her for H1N1? You have to pay for this test (QR 700 I think).

Also, H1N1 vaccine is available here in Qatar. I am also pregnant and wouldnt take the risk so I did the responsible thing and got myself and children vaccinated as we travel a lot. Being pregnant, the risk of serious side effects from the vaccine greatly outweigh the possibility of getting the flu and having severe complications.

On a side note, I hate that youtube video. One instance of something happening with the vaccine and people are refusing to vaccinate themselves?____________________________________________________
"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock - Will Rogers"

Bibo the vaccine is simple, they will give you the injectable, don't take the nose mist as this is the live vaccine.

Go to the Supreme Council of Health, Vaccination center (right beside the Abu Hammour petrol station) with either your health card or passport and you can get it on the spot. Took me about 5 minutes for me and kids.

The treatment for H1N1 and regular flu are the same. The only concern is that you are high risk... and if you have already been exposed the vaccine wont help.

The test is available at Hamad but you have to ask for it. I am not sure how long it takes them to get the result back but there is a hotline number listed on the Hukoomi site (you can google H1N1 vaccinations Qatar or something and you will find it).

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"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock - Will Rogers"

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I'm Jack's complete lack of surprise

I called Hamad hotline: they don't do H1N1 diagnosis test and won't do it.
They just asked me to take precautions and stay 2 meters away from her.
Tey told me that H1N1 is contagious from 1 day before the symptoms till 7 days after.

I am starting to feel the poor girl really has H1N1, coz she has horrible headache, vomiting and horrible joint pains.

Hmm, Strange. A friend did H1N1 testing in Hamad, paid QR 700 and they sent it to Germany or something of the other....

But..... it wouldnt matter anyway as you have been exposed. Truth be known, more people die of the seasonal flu than have with H1N1, just your risk is greater.

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"Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie' until you can find a rock - Will Rogers"

I will definately give them a call now...
I started coughing today and am not feeling well... hummm...
I pray this is indeed not H1N1!!

All hype this flu!!!If she has the virus it will be spread whatever she does. She's had the Tamiflu probably got some side effects, don't worry about being pregnant with flu, coming from a cold country, millions of women get flu when pregnant!!
Don't worry about it!