How could one prepare for a pandemic flu?

We've had a couple recent threads about this sort of topic. Maybe we're all talked out. See this thread started a couple days ago. This one was about Tamiflu. And this one from a few weeks ago was on vaccinations in general, but might have some informative stuff for you.

Latest news flash--H5N1 strain of avian flu confirmed in Turkish turkey farm (Turkish turkeys? That's what the news article said!). 7,600 birds destroyed after 1,800 of them died from it. Seems like the authorities have things pretty well controlled.

Darn migratory birds are gradually carrying it across the entire Eurasian continent. Hey, there's one idea that no one has suggested on the forum yet--ban all international movement of migratory birds. While we're at it, lets ban the spread of air pollution across borders, too. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Hey, you are late .....
French gvt did this a few years ago, to prevent the radioactiv clouds from Chernobyl to enter french territory ...
well, that's more or less what they explained at the time ... <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

While we're on the topic of bird migrations, here's an excellent map showing migratory patterns across Europe, Asia, and Africe from this BBC article which confirms that the bird flu in Romania is indeed the H5N1 strain.

Get a flu shot, get a specific one for this IF they develop one, wash your hands, cough in your elbow, don't shake hands- learn to bow.

Other than that, wait for it and if you get sick, isolate yourself, hydrate, antipyretics (asprin or tylenol), and sleep. Check in with your doc. IF you get it, hope that there is enough unhoarded tamiflu left to give to care providers and those who require hosipitalization.

Basically, this is an alien enough strain, it will effect a normal, healthy person the same way a "common" flu strain effects someone with a compromised respiratory system. It's just like a normal flu, but a lot, lot worse.

Other than that, there isn't a thing you can do other than don't hoard tamiflu. I have nightmares about an epidemic, becuase after the first index patients, the next persons to catch it in area "x" are going to be EMT/Para, nurses and docs. Tamiflu is apparently as close to a specific for this strain as exists, and if there isn't enough for medicos, they will be at greatest risk.Once they get it, they are out of the game, which makes it all that much harder.

Looks like H5N1 has already morphed enough to be resistant to Tamiflu , which is a brand name for oseltamivir. A 14 year old girl in Vietnam has been found to have the resistant variant. However, another anti-viral, zanamivir, sold by GlaxoSmithKline under the brand name Relenza is still effective. If you're really concerned about stockpiling anti avian flu drugs, then you should stock both.

The full article can be read at the following link. It will probably only be available for a couple of days.

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/st...1014?hub=Health

Greeeat. <img src="/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Actually, I ask people to NOT stockpile, there isn't enough of the material in country on hand.

I second ironraven's suggestion to NOT get your own personal stockpile of anti-virals. Gov'ts around the world are trying to build up strategic reserves of Tamiflu and Relenza right now and both are in generally short supply. Hoarding by private citizens will just jack up the prices and may make them unavailable to the people who need them the most when the time comes.

I'm with you guys on not stockpiling antiviral drugs. I don't think it's the best stragegy. Besides, there's a strong chance that whatever you stockpile will be useless anyway as H5N1 mutates.

Stay healthy - get a flu shot, eat right, get lots of sleep and wash your hands often - that's probably a far better strategy than stockpiling drugs.

Here's a good read about hand washing :

http://www.cap.org/apps/docs/fact_sheets/germs.htm

Frankie

Reuters is reporting that eBay is stopping the sale of Tamiflu on its website. The article is sort of making a mountain out of a mole hill since according to the article, there's only one auction with 28 bids involved, but it could be indicative of things to come. A regular 10-capsule course of Tamiflu was bid up to 100 pounds (about USD $175) which is about 3 or 4 times the usual European cost. Imagine what it will cost when the first person-to-person strain becomes prevalent.

Let's not forget that no one knows what the best timing, dose, or length of treatment for the next pandemic strain will be, assuming it's even sensitive to Tamiflu. Maybe 20 capsules will be required, so anyone taking just 10 capsules may not be deriving any benefit, and would actually be contributing to drug resistance by using too short a course of meds. Already, experts think misuse/overuse of Tamiflu in Southeast Asia (where it can be obtained over-the-counter) may have contributed to the isolated Tamiflu resistant H5N1 strain found in Vietnam recently.

Anyone recall how much more expensive than normal Cipro cost on the Internet during the anthrax scare?

And...what type (brand) of respirator are we suppose to purchase to prepare for the big event?


ONE DAY CLOSER

This was answered on a Sienfeld episode.
Look for the one about Bubble Boy. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

The CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommend NIOSH approved N95 (95% filter efficiency when subjected to a 0.3µm MMAD Sodium Chloride particle challenge) like the 3M 8210 and the folding version 9210. I want to get some folding. They sell it in boxes of 20. Whatever the brand you get, it must be NIOSH approved and should be written on the package.

But I'm not getting these for the pandemic threat. It's more for short emergencies like a terrorist attacks or accidents where there could be dusts etc. or even just for working in a dusty environment.

I mean if the virus mutates and there's a real outbreak of human to human transmission it's going to last a couple of weeks or month and you'll have to stock up on more than 20 of these disposable masks and of course it's not going to be infallible, far from it. Or you'll have to shelter-in-place for a long time...

Frankie

By answering this question, I'm NOT recommending that the average citizen stock up on masks/respirators in preparation for a pandemic. However, if I had a job that required potential contact with infected people or animals, IMHO I would want a respirator that was NIOSH N-99 or N-100 or European FFP3 certified. Just as crucial as the correct respirator is proper training, fit-testing, and periodic fit checks. Of course, other personal protective gear like gloves, aprons, coveralls, goggles, visors, etc. are also crucial if operating in a high risk situation.

The only situation where your average person would be recommended to wear a mask is if they are sick or starting to show symptoms like fever. In that case, the person should wear a surgical mask or better, if available. You want to minimize the sick person from launching millions of virus-laden droplets into the air when they cough or sneeze.

I just got a case of Tyvek coveralls with the hoods and elastic if you are interested in some. I was thinking about posting them on that online auction site, so I thought I would ask here since I saw the topic. I want to get 2 dollars each.