Know Your Swine-Flu-Afflicted Celebrities
Celebrities, they're just like us: Some of them get swine flu, and all the rest are freaking out with psychosomatic symptoms. (Seriously: I've got a mild cough right now, and I'm ready to make out my will.) Just today, it was reported -- then retracted -- that Teri Hatcher had come down with the fast-moving flu, so we thought it was time to sift through all the rumors and hospitalizations to answer two important questions: Who in Hollywood has had the swine flu, and who was merely rumored to?
WHO'S HAD IT:
Celebrity: Rupert Grint
Famous For: Playing sidekick Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter film franchise
Diagnosed: Late June
Public Statement: "It was quite scary when I first found out I had swine flu," Grint told reporters at a press conference for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in London. "I thought, 'Am I going to die?' But it was just like any other flu, really."
Celebrity: Dr. Sanjay Gupta
Famous For: Acting as CNN's chief medical correspondent, turning down President Obama's overture to become Surgeon General
Diagnosed: Mid-September
Public Statement: "It started as a cough," Gupta wrote in his blog, entitled "I Went to Afghanistan and All I Got Was H1N1." He continued: "This was the kind of cough that hurts when you do it. A stinging pain that makes you wince and guard and hope that you don't have to cough again any time soon...I woke up in my dusty desert tent and tried to step out of my sleeping bag. Two steps later, I almost hit the deck...I was lightheaded and freezing cold - even though it was over 100 degrees outside at that early hour of the morning."
Celebrity: Brian Littrell
Famous For: Being a member of the Backstreet Boys
Diagnosed: Early October
Public Statement: "We were really looking forward to spending time with our closest fans and friends in NYC," said Littrell, who was diagnosed mere days before the release of the band's new album, which forced the cancellation of several promotional activities. "I hope we can come back soon and do everything we can to help."
Celebrity: Melissa Rycroft
Famous For: Winning The Bachelor yet having her engagement rescinded in a scandalous After the Rose ceremony, then finishing third on Dancing with the Stars.
Diagnosed: Mid-October
Public Statement: "Like most people who become infected, I thought I had a mild case of the common flu, but when my symptoms exacerbated, I immediately went to the hospital where I was diagnosed with H1N1 and given the proper medications to cure the infection," Rycroft told Us. "I want to stress to people how easy it is to battle this flu when you take the proper steps such as seeking the care of a doctor. I'm a clear case that by paying diligent attention to your health, it's easy to overcome this illness and be healthy again."
Pages: 1 2

Comments
Over on the Warner's lot, I hear everyone's trying to avoid Porky Pig.
You forgot patient zero - Jim Henson.
@Melissa Rycroft: In a perfect world, we all could seek the care of a doctor. Sadly, such is not the case.
Does Sky Bar have a "swine flu only" section?
Daft Clown, you are wrong. I work in an emergency room, we are not allowed to deny care to anyone. Even if they are not a citizen. Get it right my friend.
And me. You forgot me.
Listen here, you work in an emergency room. Ok. So if someone is experiencing a life-threatening trauma then they must be admitted and cared for appropriately. Understood.
Now if someone comes into the emergency room of your hospital experiencing the initial symptoms of H1N1, (ie: coughing) are you telling me that someone that is experiencing coughing is going to be cared for IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM?
Oh, and that person does not have health insurance because they cannot afford the outrageous rates that are forced upon the average citizen.
No, I think "Go home and take a cough drop & stop wasting our time so we can treat the car accident victim next to you" would be the response given. Then they can come back in a week with a fever of 105 degrees and near death, and then they can have emergency room care.