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2006-08-28 -Short Attention Span Theater-

Arkport native questions seriousness of avian flu threat

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Posted by Throluting Whineth3496 2006-08-28 11:42|| || Front Page|| [5 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Chuck comments here, and he and I have disagreed on a number of issues relating to bird. He is right about the importance of hand washing and getting a regular flu vax, but he then goes on to perpetuate a couple of myths.

Simmins, said only N95 masks can prevent infection.

Nonsense. The reason hand washing is important is that people unconciously touch the mucous membranes of the face, all the time, tranferring the virus to where it can infect the body. Any mask, even a homemade one will prevent this because it is a physical barrier.

SARS did not peter out. It was contained by quite draconian measures, including forced isolation.

Posted by phil_b 2006-08-28 21:24|| 2006-08-28 21:24|| Front Page Top

#2 Nonetheless. Woo hoo! One of ours is famous!!

Only what is a "semi-professional blogger"?

Posted by trailing wife 2006-08-28 21:31|| 2006-08-28 21:31|| Front Page Top

#3 It makes sense for local governments to stock up on several items: disposable rubber gloves, ordinary ear loop masks, clear plastic glasses, and hand sanitizer.

The reason being that we assume that our medical system will be overwhelmed--not hard really, because it has very little reserve of anything. This means that most people will be stuck at home.

A very useful and effective thing a local government can do is to organize a large number of people to go door-to-door, to check on the well-being of the residents. Fortunately, most people today have phones, so phone banks will help this situation a lot.

They visitors wear long sleeved garments, ear loop masks, eyeglasses and they keep their distance.

Every day they check each house and apartment where no one has answered the phone, noting which ones have sick people, calling for emergency help if needed, and arranging for body recovery when a death happens. In extreme situations, they may even deliver emergency food rations.

Since animals may also be affected, they notify for pick up of any dead or stray animals they see.

The clear glasses and ear loop masks keep out virus-carrying large droplets, and the gloves and hand sanitizer are in case they have to touch something. (Most people need to be taught to sanitize their gloves after use.)

They may even each carry some small plastic bags and rubber bands to put over their shoes in case they have to walk through something, like vomit.

They serve all sorts of uses: handing out information and local news, giving vaccinations when they become available, detecting early-stage symptoms so they can advise the family to set up a sick room and avoid that family member for a while, and posting quarantine signs.

Fortunately, most cities have automated garbage pick-up, which gets rid of the sudden surge in medical waste safely. Chlorinated water is also a big plus.

The bottom line is that America hasn't seen a real killer flu since the Spanish flu, and no major deadly epidemic since WWII. So what we do today will be a combination of what worked way back when, but using the tools available to us today.

It will, however, still be like nothing we can imagine.

Posted by Anonymoose 2006-08-28 22:23|| 2006-08-28 22:23|| Front Page Top

#4 #3 'Moose: "The bottom line is that America hasn't seen a real killer flu since the Spanish flu, and no major deadly epidemic since WWII."

I was doing some research on pandemics recently, and discovered that the flu epidemics of 1957 (I think - don't have the data with me) and 1968 were considered pandemics - though they killed in the low millions worldwide instead of the 50 to 100 million killed by the 1918 epidemic.

I was just 11 years old in 1957, but I'm surprised I don't remember the 1968 epidemic, when I was in college. Of course, it's possible the news just didn't report it as an epidemic to prevent panic (something they'd never do now).

I can attest to the effectiveness of hand sanitizer (Purell, etc.) in killing germs. Since I started using it a lot, particularly in winter, I haven't had a cold in years (knock wood). I make it a conscious habit not to touch my face until I've used it, whenever I shake hands with anyone, put my hands on public door handles, elevator buttons, etc., or handle money - especially money. Handwashing with soap is great, but rarely available at the checkout. I buy a huge jug at Sam's or Costco and keep refilling my smaller bottles (office, purse, rescue gear).

I've attended some good training re: pandemics in the last month, plus done some research, as I said. It's a good idea for localities to stockpile masks, gloves, etc. These things will help if/when a pandemic arrives. I think at least some governments (cities, states, feds) are making some good preparations, but the weak link is that most businesses still haven't even thought about how they'll be able to continue functioning during a pandemic, let alone put together a business survival plan (which should include planning to function with up to 50% absenteeism for an extended period, and a fair number of deaths).

As 'Moose says, "It will, however, still be like nothing we can imagine."

I'm not looking forward to it.

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2006-08-28 23:26|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/page/15bk1/Home_Page.html]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/page/15bk1/Home_Page.html] 2006-08-28 23:26|| Front Page Top

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