The Straight Dope

Go Back   Straight Dope Message Board > Main > In My Humble Opinion (IMHO)

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 10-25-2009, 11:23 PM
Mr Buttons Mr Buttons is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: May 2008
Have you ever been a major vector for a communicable disease?

This head lice thread over in MPSIMS got me thinking about this. Let's leave out the STD's, because if one were to be passing one of them to a significant number of people, they probably don't wanna brag about it.

Back in kindergarten, I was one of the first 2-3 people to come down w/ chicken pox. After being out of school for 1 1/2-2 weeks, I came back to class. Out of the 23-25 kids normally in my class, there were 2 other kids besides myself left standing. We had over a 90% absentee rate for the remainder of the week. At the time, it was pretty neat for me, it was basically a week full of snacks, naps, and coloring because they couldn't teach w/ no students there.

I can't say that I was the one kid who got it all started (though I guess I could've been). I'm sure I played a role in it though. So, any else here who's knocked out over 50+% of their co-workers or students along the line?
Reply With Quote
Advertisements  
  #2  
Old 10-25-2009, 11:41 PM
Attack from the 3rd dimension Attack from the 3rd dimension is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
I've apparently been an early adopter for H1N1, in that I finally feel human again. A friend's visit started on the first day I was sick, then she went home to the other side of the continent.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 10-25-2009, 11:48 PM
runner pat runner pat is online now
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Riding my handcycle
Posts: 11,295
I got chicken pox when I was 31. I worked for a courier service at the time so I came into brief contact with who knows how many that day. The vesicles didn't appear until that evening.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 10-26-2009, 12:16 AM
panache45 panache45 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: NE Ohio (the 'burbs)
Posts: 19,525
When I was in college I lived in a rooming house. Early in the year I caught the flu, and gave it to all my housemates. My nickname became "Germ."
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 10-26-2009, 12:58 AM
Mr Buttons Mr Buttons is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: May 2008
Quote:
Originally Posted by panache45 View Post
When I was in college I lived in a rooming house. Early in the year I caught the flu, and gave it to all my housemates. My nickname became "Germ."
Heh... the mention of college reminded me of something. I knew a guy who'd break out w/ pinkeye at least twice a year. He nailed nearly 80% of our friend circle w/ the damn thing. I was a victim, but I never passed it on to any roommates/friends because I was aware of how damn contagious the thing is.

His whiny girlfriend who constantly scratched her eyes and touched any damn thing in sight is another story... Thank god for Lysol
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:58 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

Send questions for Cecil Adams to: cecil@chicagoreader.com

Send comments about this website to: webmaster@straightdope.com

Terms of Use / Privacy Policy

Advertise on the Straight Dope!
(Your direct line to thousands of the smartest, hippest people on the planet, plus a few total dipsticks.)

Publishers - interested in subscribing to the Straight Dope?
Write to: sdsubscriptions@chicagoreader.com.

Copyright © 2013 Sun-Times Media, LLC.