What do you think about the Swine Flu?

[OakLeaf]

Okay, I hadn't read this morning's news yet where the virologists and geneticists are saying that preliminary indications are that this is not a particularly lethal strain. (Which BTW that news comes from the "MSM," not from the CDC or WHO.)

Nevertheless I stand by what I said to begin with... epidemiologists have been saying for years that it's a matter of when not if. Just as people dismiss climate change because their house isn't underwater yet, people dismiss the near-certainty of pandemic flu whenever the latest suspicious strain doesn't turn out to be "the one."

We all need to be prepared for emergencies. I'm not talking about panic - I'm talking about the same kind of attitude that causes us to wear helmets when we ride. We hope it will never happen, but the likelihood is that it will, and when and if it does, there's no substitute for having the proper preparations in place ahead of time. Seven days' food and water, a way to cook, heat and dispose of waste if the electric goes down, a plan to locate loved ones... those are things we all should have in case of hurricane, tornado, earthquake, pandemic or whatever.

[ACG]

Let me make one thing clear:

I have bronchitis not the swine flu!

While trying to fill my prescriptions the other day I coughed (into my five tissues) and a woman ceremoniosly backed away from me, her eyes bulging from her head, the other people around me began to slowly slide away. I could feel their eyes burning, I imagined alarms starting to ring in the store, being surrounded by people wearing protective gear, dragging me by by heals, a net over my head....

Then I started laughing to myself of the story I concocted in my head.

The woman didn't seem amused that I was smiling.

[ny biker]

Yesterday on the local news they said emergency rooms are busy with people who think they have swine flu...and it turns out they all have allergies.

[ZenSojourner]

We ARE doing the things that need to be done to be "prepared".

The CDC and the WHO ARE, and have been for years, monitoring flu strains as they arise.

Having it splashed all over the new as if people are dropping dead like flies, or are just about to any second, doesn't help anyone be prepared.

Aside from the immediate effects of spreading panic and making people act like idiots in public (backing away with bulging eyes from the plague-bearer in their midst), there's another effect: it's the boy who cried wolf.

IF we ever get a strain of super bug that rips through the public like the flu of 1916 - and that's a BIG "IF" with modern medicine and sanitation, I think we forget just what conditions people were living in in 1916, and how piss-poor hospital procedures of the time would be considered to be now - who's going to pay attention to the 20th news blitz claiming disaster?

[Aggie_Ama]

DH is on immuno-suppresants but has always been dilligent about his hand washing long before he was on them. So concerned but not panicking in our house.

[GLC1968]

Okay, I hadn't read this morning's news yet where the virologists and geneticists are saying that preliminary indications are that this is not a particularly lethal strain. (Which BTW that news comes from the "MSM," not from the CDC or WHO.)

Nevertheless I stand by what I said to begin with... epidemiologists have been saying for years that it's a matter of when not if. Just as people dismiss climate change because their house isn't underwater yet, people dismiss the near-certainty of pandemic flu whenever the latest suspicious strain doesn't turn out to be "the one."

We all need to be prepared for emergencies. I'm not talking about panic - I'm talking about the same kind of attitude that causes us to wear helmets when we ride. We hope it will never happen, but the likelihood is that it will, and when and if it does, there's no substitute for having the proper preparations in place ahead of time. Seven days' food and water, a way to cook, heat and dispose of waste if the electric goes down, a plan to locate loved ones... those are things we all should have in case of hurricane, tornado, earthquake, pandemic or whatever.

Ditto. Personally, I'm not concerned that my husband or I will get it. He works from home and I rarely go anywhere public except for work. Hell, I've never even bothered with a FLU shot - I think it's silly. In fact, my brother is a pilot for Continental and was just in Mexico three weeks ago for an overnight and he's totally healthy. That said, that doesn't mean that my lack of personal fear keeps me from being prepared. What happens if there is a quarantine...warranted or not? Do you have enough food and Rx to last a week or two? What about pet food? Do you have a plan for home entertainment should your kids be forced to remain home for a week or two? Just simple things to be prepared for...whether or not they ever happen.

That said, I did hear that they are planning on killing all the pigs in Cairo (I think it was Cairo) this week. Something like 400,000 of them because of fear. So sad.

[maillotpois]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/0..._n_193624.html

[Zen]

Oh, poor Piglet

Last night I was wondering if there was a possible correlation between the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 and this current pandemic when low and behold I stumbled upon
this

I was also thinking I wish I had asked my granny what that was like. She was born in 1897 and probably would have remembered something about it.

[GLC1968]

Omg, MP - that made me snort so loudly that I'm sure my coworkers now think I have swine flu!

[kathybiker]

I am shopping today for items that could prevent contracting the flu or lessen its impact. Being prepared is the best defense at this stage.

The remarks of Dr. Margaret Chan, Director of the World Health Organization have motivated me to respond by buying items that will help avoid or lessen illness.

Dr. Chan said, "Influenza pandemics must be taken seriously precisely because of their capacity to spread rapidly to every country in the world."

She also said, "No matter what the situation is, the international community should treat this as a window of opportunity to ramp up preparedness and response."

For the latest WHO updates, see:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html

Here is my shopping list:

Food items:

• Two weeks worth of usual groceries, with emphasis on less perishable items
  Also:
  
  Bottled water
  Gatorade
  7Up
  Ginger Ale
  Tonic Water
  Progresso canned soups
  Healthy Choice canned soups
  Crackers
  Bottled juices high in vitamin C content

For cleanliness:

• Hand sanitizer
  Liquid antibacterial soap
  Antibacterial wipes
  Antibacterial dishwashing liquid
  Antibacterial spray cleaner
  Disposable latex gloves
  Face masks
  Bleach
  Paper towels
  Kleenex
  Toilet paper

Miscellaneous medical products:

• Aspirin
  Tylenol
  Kaopectate or Imodium
  Ice
  Cimetidine (Tagamet) -- boosts immune system
  Elderberry extract
  Usual multivitamins including high dosages of B, C and E

Influenza tips from the Red Cross:
http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/...0089f0870aRCRD

See also Life Extension Foundation pages on flu:
http://www.lef.org/protocols/infecti...fluenza_01.htm


.

[Pedal Wench]

My thoughts: http://dvice.com/archives/2009/04/a-lighter-look.php

[Zen]

I still have a case of duct tape left from the anthrax panic.
Probably some Spam from Y2K too

[ny biker]

I still have a case of duct tape left from the anthrax panic.
Probably some Spam from Y2K too

Is it the original silver-gray, or one of the newer colors? (The duct tape, I mean, not the spam. )

[Zen]

Silver.
I'm old-school

[GLC1968]

Is it the original silver-gray, or one of the newer colors? (The duct tape, I mean, not the spam. )

Mmmm, silver Spam. That's a delicacy in some cultures!