Swine Flu, PAX, And You

We came away from the fantastic Penny Arcade Expo last weekend laden with two things: memories, and disease. Though the memories will last forever, we're hoping the illness abates here in the next couple of days. (Currently, 60 percent of the office is afflicted; you can listen to this week's podcast to find out which ones.)

Certainly you shake a lot of hands and touch a lot of public controllers at any video game trade show, so a cold here and there is to be expected. But (anecdotally) the sheer number of people I know who have gotten sick directly after this year's PAX is a little startling. The litany of moaning on Twitter and in IM windows was starting to turn into a joke yesterday, to be honest. Jeff dubbed it the nerd flu, technical designation E1M1.

Flight List for those with Confirmed Cases:

Departed Sunday:

• JetBlue #498, Seattle to Boston, Departed Sunday Night
• United #356, Seattle to Denver, Departed Sunday Afternoon
• United #958, Seattle to Chicago, Departed Sunday Morning

Departed Monday:

• Alaska Airline #12, Seattle to Boston, Departed Monday Morning
• Delta #1050, Seattle to Atlanta, Departed Monday Morning
• American Airlines #1414, Seattle to St. Louis, Departed Sunday Afternoon
• American Airlines #1162, St. Louis to Chicago

 
For those with doctor-confirmed cases, please email rkhoo@penny-arcade.com with your flight info. Thanks.  

Hope everyone gets well fast.

Hope no one got sick on the GB crew

Wow, yeah swine flu is still pretty mucha  big deal, also in my school currently they have been nailing down and trying to control outbreaks

Fight the flu guys.

You dudes actually got swine flu?  That really sucks, get well soon.

" Wow, yeah swine flu is still pretty mucha  big deal, also in my school currently they have been nailing down and trying to control outbreaks "

well..shit. hope everyone at GB is alright.

Mabufu GB crew and they're all ready to go!

yay now the media gets to blame the spread of the swine flu on video games. Cant wait to see the headlines "Video games make kids murdering crazy people who spread Swine Flu!"

Whoa, you guys have the swine flu, or just the regular old flu?

" @chililili said:

" Wow, yeah swine flu is still pretty mucha  big deal, also in my school currently they have been nailing down and trying to control outbreaks "

No, it really isn't a big deal at all. "

" @chililili said:

" Wow, yeah swine flu is still pretty mucha  big deal, also in my school currently they have been nailing down and trying to control outbreaks "

No, it really isn't a big deal at all. "

" yay now the media gets to blame the spread of the swine flu on video games. Cant wait to see the headlines "Video games make kids murdering crazy people who spread Swine Flu!" "

I've been feeling a bit under the weather since PAX as well, and when I first heard about the swine flu case, I made an appointment with my doctor for a quick check-up.  He didn't bother running any tests for swine flu specifically, but it appears that all I really have is your average case of the convention crud.
 
Still, to anyone that fell ill while at PAX, get well soon.

get well soon guys

" Mabufu GB crew and they're all ready to go! "

*realizes he lives 18 minutes away from GB* 
 
my god 
 

I've been feeling like shit too. :\

Just do a SRK in the flu's face and you should be good.

Hope everyone is ok in the office!

O_O wow 60% of the staff?

A guildy got it.  The Sunday night after everything was done, we went out and he felt bad enough to head back a bit early.   So far I think I've dodged it to the point that a flight by the same airline, same destination, same day is listed as a confirmed flight, but it wasn't my flight.

Seems a few folks have had to visit a hospital or doctor after PAX to get themselves checked out. Bit worrying but at this point, is anyone surprised that at a gathering of 60,000 or so people there would be a case of swine flu?

Hope no one gets too sick but you should cast Armita I hear it cures all ailments.

Makes me feel better for not being there but if any of my fellow UK duders went to PAX and got the Swinege you have my sympathy (and an axe in the back of the head if you pass it on to me).
 
Get well soon Giant Bombers staff and community a like.

" You dudes actually got swine flu?  That really sucks, get well soon. "

My company makes the flu vaccine.  I had a meeting with a lot of companies to go over their pandemic plans.  I said our plan was to "give everyone the cure and get back to work."  They all laughed, until they realized that I was serious.

I was on the Delta flight Monday morning to Atlanta.  No fever here though.

" O_O wow 60% of the staff? "

Get well soon dudes who have Swine Flu.

" @Br3adfan said:

" You dudes actually got swine flu?  That really sucks, get well soon. "

Failure at reading comprehension = Failure at commenting "

we're hoping the illness abates here in the next couple of days. (Currently, 60 percent of the office is afflicted; you can listen to this week's podcast to find out which ones.)

" I was on the Delta flight Monday morning to Atlanta.  No fever here though. "

I'm sitting here with just a sore throat luckily but hopefully I don't infect anyone else.
 
It's a nice excuse to eat some chicken noodle soup though. Get well soon everyone whose got the nerd virus.

" @CL60 said:

" @chililili said:

" Wow, yeah swine flu is still pretty mucha  big deal, also in my school currently they have been nailing down and trying to control outbreaks "

No, it really isn't a big deal at all. "

It wasn't last spring but now they are not joking the the potential it could cause. It  is not a bad thing to be careful and preemptive on the possibilty of a spread of the disease. The normal flu kills and this can do that at a wider spread. "

Was the podcast supposed to go up before this PSA?

perfect place to spread disease

I wish for a speedy recovery. We love ya.

That sucks. I hope the staff and the community members get well soon.

dang that sucks. i have read that there is a flu coming around from PAX.

Swine flu is one of those things I see on teh growned ups news (ie, Alex Jones) I kind of resent it's interlopation of my escape from all that. BACK OFF, FLU!

I have a shitty immune system, and my whole family is sick, but I feel fine.

when I inevitably catch swine flu this fall, it'll totally be like I was at PAX with you all. sweet.

Looking forward to a contageous podcast.

That blows.

" @crunchUK said:

" O_O wow 60% of the staff? "

There's only like 7 guys....get a hold of yourself. *casts silly slap* "

Curse you Bob!