Disinfecting---my swine flu scare

My 12yr old came home from school yesterday telling me that his teacher tested positive for swine flu. He only saw her Monday and she was not sick yet, so I'm hopeful it will miss us for now. I spoke with the boys pediatrician so we have a timeframe and plan of action, so I feel slightly better, but I'm terrified that Trenton will get sick and then make Garrett sick. I, of course, am concerned about Trenton's health, but maybe a little moreso for Garrett. Does that make me a bad mom? Garrett is too young for Tamiflu, Trenton can take it. Garrett is 5 months old and hasn't been sick yet, so we don't know how strong his immune system is. Ugh, the wondering and waiting is awful! I'm trying to keep them apart, but today they'll be in the same car doe 20 minutes breathing the same air. The Lysol wipes are out and in use at my house, and we are changing and washing clothing, toothbrushes, towels, and bedsheets daily. Trenton and I are taking Vitamin C, zinc, echinacea, and drinking lots of hot tea, also gargling with Listerine. Is this enough? Time will tell. some suggestions from Lehman's Country Life The only portals of entry of the H1N1 virus are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it’s almost impossible not coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is. While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu): 1. Frequent handwashing(well highlighted in all official communications). This is not a joke. Make it a ritual habit…make it part of your daily routine… DO NOT BE LAZY…! 2. “Hands-off-the-face” approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap). 3. Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don’t trust salt). H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don’t underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method 4. Similar to 3 above, clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population. 5. Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (such as citrus fruits). If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that they also have Zinc to boost absorption. 6. Drink as much warm liquid as you can (such as teas, soups and broths). Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm A new article suggests that contrary to other reports, the seasonal flu vaccine may indeed offer some protection against h1n1 also http://www.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUSN0644527820091006 Good news to me since my family will receive the seasonal flu vaccine, but not the h1n1 vaccine. Our doc is NOT recommending the h1n1 vaccine to any of her patients. I knew that this flu season would be scary with a new baby, but I guess I wasn't really prepared for the exposure so soon...denial? Anyone else having a swine flu scare close to home?