Is anyone out there preparing for the Bird Flu . Besides having protective masks and latex gloves , how are you preparing ? Vitamins , home made or herbal remedies ???

In case you haven't seen this thread, there's some info there. Initial post contains a still-good link to the TV show transcript.

This afternoon, I took Mom (age 84) to see her family doctor after being hospitalized with a bout of pneumonia a week ago. She (the doctor) mentioned the strong possibility of an outbreak of bird flu here in the States (I wish I could remember her exact words—I should have taken what’s-his-name’s memory course) and that a drug named Tamiflu helps one survive this flu once symptoms appear. She further said some countries have ordered enough of this drug from Roche Pharmaceuticals to protect most of their citizens; but that the US has ordered little. So if there is an outbreak, this stuff will be extremely hard to get in the US. The doctor gave Mom a prescription for Tamiflu to be filled NOW (just to have the drug around) and said do not worry too much about expiration dates. Tamiflu runs 80USD—your medical insurance might pick up some of the costs of this.

I would appreciate anyone with medical qualifications correcting any misstatements I may have made above and elaborating on this drug and the current prognostication on this possible pandemic.

Let me see how to put this nicely.


IT IS NOT HERE



OK? Worry about something worth worrying about.

Google knows all. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Tamiflu product web site.

Looks like cool stuff, even without a bird flu epidemic. I had no idea antivirals had come this far. If / when I get the flu or even think I'm getting the flu, I'm going to get my butt to a doctor to see if this stuff makes a difference.

Precautions here:

http://www.cdc.gov/travel/other/avian_flu_ig_americans_abroad_032405.htm

The "Spanish Flu" of 1918 was carried FROM HERE to EUROPE.

As long as we have reasonably open borders, you WILL be susceptible to whatever disease is out there. Including, but not excepting, a kick-butt chicken virus.

The last time this subject came up, I don't think we got anywhere either.

If it happens, it'll be really, really bad. And I don't necessarily mean the flu itself. Think the TSA is intrusive for making you take your shoes off? Wait 'tll a bad flu outbreak.

I think this is one of the few likely scenarios where having a couple of months or more of supplies on hand makes sense. At least, to me. Assuming the flu virus doesn't persist in the environment without victims to spread it, staying inside and waiting out the worst of it seems to be the way to go. Once everyone who has it either recovers or dies, once the mess is cleaned up, once society calms down, if you didn't catch it, you're probably good to go.

Or not. What do I know. Dangit, Jim... I'm a programmer, not a doctor.

What worries me is if there is an outbreak, the government will feel it is necessary to do more "for our safety" and impose more regulations for us citizens to jump through.

I work as a contractor for the company that makes Tamiflu. If you check it out the avian (bird) flu epidimic in Asia was curbed by the use of it. It will work on most type A virus so it is not restricted to flu. The main reason it has not been fully marketed has been a matter of supply. All of the reserve was shipped to Asia. Even though it has been on the market, production would not meet demand. Many doctors are still not aware of the product so you may have to have your doctor look it up. There is continued pressure from the govt. to increase production since an epidemic could be disasterous but the production process is long and costly and is requiring facility expansion.