Birdflu.. any tips for coping?

[oscar111]

my best epal buddy is disabled, and wants me to
ask you if you have any tips for coping with any birdflu outbreak later on when it is a human to human disease.... if it becomes such.

Might like also to see my post in Health forum...
"birdflu, the Firewall Plan". find it by looking at author colum, look for oscar111.

thank you folks

[babylonsister]

1. No tips, but you might want to post your question here also:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=317

Personally, I am not borrowing trouble w/the scare tactics, but I'm also not
disabled.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. Avoid contact with the masses... IF it ever becomes a real threat

I have my doubts.

[Warpy]

3. First, the thing that makes it inefficient as a human to human virus

is the same thing that is making it so deadly: it lodges in the lowest part of the respiratory tract where it can't be coughed out and spread by droplet. If it mutates into a virus that infects the upper respiratory tract it will likely be a much less deadly virus.

As for coping, tell him to have the chickens live in the chicken coop, not in his house, and gather the eggs only when they're out pecking for bugs in the yard. That'll keep him from catching it from birds while it's a lower respiratory bug.

If it mutates into an upper respiratory disease, meticulous handwashing will serve you the best. People with compromised health or weak immune systems should mask when they go out anywhere people are likely to be sick (wish I'd done that last year, caught an AWFUL flu when a cashier coughed in my face). Remember also that people can be infected with the flu and infect other people for 3 to 5 days before they get really sick with it.

Then again, you can turn survivalist and be a hermit for 18 months. Good luck on that one.

[jlayson]

4. Be sure and read this

Bird flu threat not so grave, CDC chief says


M. ALEXANDER OTTO; The News Tribune
Last updated: April 16th, 2006 05:29 PM (PDT)

Federal health officials at a meeting Friday in Tacoma downplayed the risk bird flu poses to humans, contrasting earlier warnings from the federal government.
“There is no evidence it will be the next pandemic,” Dr. Julie Gerberding, head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, said of avian flu. There is “no evidence it is evolving in a direction that is becoming more transmissible to people.”

Gerberding spoke at the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center at a pandemic flu conference that drew 1,200 people from across the state, mostly health department officials and others involved in emergency planning.

Other officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and elsewhere joined her. Gov. Chris Gregoire and several upper-level state officials also spoke. (The rest is here) http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/v-printer/story/5663788p-5080102c.html

[Mojorabbit]

6. Effect Measure the public health blog has a good rant on this

The govt is giving out the soothing measage cause it is expected in birds here this year and want to avoid panic. He takes apart this whole article.
http://effectmeasure.blogspot.com/

exerpt
I was unfair to Dr. Julie Gerberding, the CDC Director when I said some almost-nice things about her the other day. So let me correct it by taking it back.

I said then I at least gave her high marks for being a good, relatively spin-free communicator, even if she is a Katrina-sized management disaster at CDC. But then she went ahead and made a lier out of me in an appearance last week in Tacoma, Washington:
snip
There's no reason to think it ever will become easily transmissible? On the contrary, there are many reasons. Good, sound, plausible, scientific reasons. No conclusive reasons, perhaps. But comparing "gazillions of birds" to 100 human deaths has only one function here, to trivialize the issue. Responsible journalism? Irrational panic?

This is now the second Administration spokesperson to start to ratchet back on bird flu. I reported the other day that Tony Fauci had granted an interview to AP in which he did the same thing, although not so flagrantly and irresponsibly as Gerberding. One reader pointed out to me there was no news hook in the Fauci interview. It seemed to come out of the blue. Meanwhile rumors are circulating that Gerberding is reorganizing again at CDC and the Flu Branch is going to be shifted around. It is now part of the National Center for Infectious Disease (NCID) but may move to the National Immunization Program. Last year the Flu branch lost some of its key personnel. Look for more with this reorganization. No one knows from day to day what their new job is going to be in the Alice in Wonderland of the New CDC. As one state epidemiologist said to me recently, "It's like a Repertory Company. Everybody you deal with now at CDC is Acting Something or Other."

This is a ridiculous time to be screwing around with CDC organization, especially considering the enormous upset and morale plunge Gerberding's previous management mishaps caused. By every account she doesn't listen, is arrogant toward the professional scientists, and is an Administration toady. Heck of a job, Julie.



As for what to do. I have six months plus of food stocked up. I have cold and flu medications, several extra months of my regular medicine, and some masks (but my hubby is a physician and plans to work if it happens so the masks are for him). I have MS and am planning for the worst. Hubby is also putting in a plan at his office as they are saying they will be sending people with flu to their docs and keeping them out of the hospitals if possible if it happens.

[nj_democrat_rocks]

5. Pay no attention, Rummy has zillions in Tamiflu makers stock

and so you know, its all a crock......don't even give it a thought.

Rummy gets rich, that's what it's all about.

He consulted his lawyers and they told him that dumping the stock would look worse than holding onto it.

Rummy has VERY good lawyers, eh? All the money to be made on Tamiflu for avian flu is a blessing for Rummy.

[Karenca]

7. I'm not worrying

Just another "terror" scare tactic, I believe.