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Swine pandemic flu

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aonomus

Sun Apr 26 2009, 04:55AM

Registered Member #1497 Joined: Thu May 22 2008, 05:24AM
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 801

Ok, so while some of you guys may laugh at this, a few people I know are taking this seriously. I have a relative that is on the inside track and is a major contributor to a big pandemic flu information resource. With 3 people in the healthcare industry I've been more or less kept up to date (as up to date as it gets). My parents also might be pulling me out of here so thats a bit of a redflag for me.

This thread is meant as a resource for anyone that wants information, it is not a thread for political discussion, rants, or otherwise. I request that the mods remain objective about this despite their own views on this, and if so inclined a separate discussion thread can be started.

Currently what is known is that Mexico has declared a state of emergency and is breaking out its antiviral (mainly Tamiflu) stash to give to its workers. Cases are breaking out all over Mexico, in California, and in New York City. Possible reported cases in Toronto as well.

A semi-current map of cases reported are here:

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Another more frequently updated map is here:

,- 58.414994&spn=40.577184,116.519623&source=embed

I n a nutshell this is avian pandemic flu under a different name to prevent panic, it has similar characteristics in terms of effects on people and spreads easily due to the reassorted strain. For those that don't know, avian flu triggers an over-response in your immune system (called a cytokine storm). Those most at risk are teenagers to middle aged adults, while babies and seniors are least at risk.

Two resources for people to read if they want to prep are: http://fluwikie.com/ and http://www.newfluwiki2.com/.

Also the official CDC and WHO pages.

The best tip I can offer people is to minimize contact with others, avoid crowded places and most importantly wash your hands every chance you get. Gel alcohol hand sanitizers must be 70% or higher to be effective.

Parents should consider what alternative plans they have for their children, their jobs, and everyone should check their regional (by province, state, county, etc) health care website as they will likely have a pandemic flu plan already in place.

Stock up on water in food grade containers, non-perishable foods, and get batteries and a radio (perferrably one that handles shortwave). For those of you in the US that are firearm owners you may want to consider extra ammunition, and cleaning tools/supplies. Extra vitamins, cold/cough medications, Tylenol/Asprin, bleach/alcohol/hydrogen peroxide (as sanitizers) and other supplies can be considered. There are helpful lists on all those sites linked.

To reiterate this is not the place for political discussion, mainly for anyone with questions about what is going on. This may be all for nothing, or this might be the one comparable to 1918, but I'd rather prefer for everyone to at least know about it.

Noelle

Sun Apr 26 2009, 05:00AM

Napoleonic Powermonger
Registered Member #2 Joined: Thu Jan 26 2006, 05:10AM
Location: Meadville, PA
Posts: 70

This is just a friendly note that while this topic can be a hot button issue for some, to follow the board rules and remain on topic in regards to the flu occurrences themselves, and to stay away from controversial political discussion.

Proud Mary

Sun Apr 26 2009, 05:11AM

Registered Member #543 Joined: Tue Feb 20 2007, 04:26PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4992

The British government seems worried about it coming here.

aonomus

Sun Apr 26 2009, 05:13AM

Registered Member #1497 Joined: Thu May 22 2008, 05:24AM
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 801

Harry wrote ...

The British government seems worried about it coming here.

Everyone is worried, borders are not closed yet and its too late to do so. I suspect the governments are buying time for announcing phase 4 where most people get 24/7 media coverage and the panic buying begins.

I strongly encourage people to stock up on food that is non perishable, in the event nothing happens you have a bland pallate for a few weeks-months, in the event it does happen you reduce exposure to potential carriers.

Proud Mary

Sun Apr 26 2009, 05:46AM

Registered Member #543 Joined: Tue Feb 20 2007, 04:26PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4992

aonomus wrote ...

Harry wrote ...

The British government seems worried about it coming here.

I can't imagine a panic like that happening in England. Birds that have died of avian 'flu have been showing up in our shores for several years now - and an entire turkey factory (you couldn't call it a farm) was wiped out by it. Folk know there is danger, but there is not much we can do about it.

The government is holding stocks of Tamiflu, but not enough for the entire population, and, in any case, some scientists doubt the efficacy of Tamiflu in treating 1918-type 'flu virus. Apparently, Tamiflu manufacture is causing a massive distortion in the international star anise market.

British churchyards are full of lost, unmarked, plague pits where bodies were tossed into the ground and heaped over with lime during the Black Death, and perhaps Old Harry will be going on to join them soon!

But here in Portslade Village, it's breakfast time, and the first whisps of flux smoke from my soldering iron are already replacing the aroma of frying bacon. The sun is shining, the cherry trees are in flower, and if RagnarÃ¶k is just round the corner, there's nothing I can do about it. What more could you want?

So no panic here!

aonomus

Sun Apr 26 2009, 06:07AM

Registered Member #1497 Joined: Thu May 22 2008, 05:24AM
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 801

On another note, they managed to find a workaround from the Star anise feedstock... can't remember what paper I'll look it up another day.

Proud Mary

Sun Apr 26 2009, 06:19AM

Registered Member #543 Joined: Tue Feb 20 2007, 04:26PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4992

Is pig 'flu thought to belong to the same root stock as bird 'flu? Is zoonosis thought to have occurred? My knowledge of virology approaches zero.

Mike

Sun Apr 26 2009, 09:00AM

Registered Member #58 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:40AM
Location: Tri-Cities, Washington, US
Posts: 317

Meh, in my opinion this is just one in a long line of predicted "pandemics" such as monkerpox, sars, avian flu, and ebola. It's likely some people will die but no where near pandemic levels I'd think.

Conundrum

Sun Apr 26 2009, 10:12AM

Registered Member #96 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:37PM
Location: CI, Earth
Posts: 4061

We have some Tamiflu here thats aproaching its "use by" date. Hopefully our Government will see sense and *not* dump it in case it is needed before new stocks arrive.

-A

Proud Mary

Sun Apr 26 2009, 10:23AM

Registered Member #543 Joined: Tue Feb 20 2007, 04:26PM
Location: UK
Posts: 4992

Well, I'm more concerned about magpies driving some of the smaller birds out of my garden, than this latest global calamity.

This may seem rather trivial of me, but if the Black Death itself was to return to England, and lay waste half the population, there wouldn't be anything I could do about it, so why worry?

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