How to Keep Your Family Safe From Bird Flu

Reader Comments
Back to blog

Thank you for keeping the public aware of the potential threat of H5N1 - especially IF/ WHEN it mutates, however, also emphasize a statistic that keeps it in perspective. As the article indicates 248 people have died from H5N1 since 2003. This is unfortunate, however, it is 248 people out of a population of over 2 BILLION - including Asia and Southeast Asia. Many more people die for other reasons there...i.e. other common illnesses, automotive accidents, et al.
So, as a representative in the travel industry specializing in Asia please do not create another unwarranted media driven paranoia and panic. If there is of yet no fire in the theater there is no need to yell FIRE.

Jeff Adkins of CA 6:33PM January 08, 2009

"The only winning move is not to play" - from the 1980's movie "War Games"
So far this is good advice for a pandemic. Even according to the sixth Pandemic Planning report released today by HHS (Source : http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/panflureport6.html ) there is much to do.
Nancy I thank you for the article. One can not cover pandemic planning in 75,000 words or less. Each city and town has its own issues and needs its own local solution.
Here I believe in you the reader. There are other folks in developing countries outside the USA who may be better prepared for they live close to the land and are resiliant.
In implimenting their solutions many have found that prepping is cost effective. Buying in bulk is often cheaper. We tested some plans by using a box and tinfoil as a stove and made pizza while camping in the woods. The pizza was brick oven good with lots of texture.
Oddly learning to make bread at home is not only a prep technique but educational and fun. One neighbor said "wow I whish we did this at home"
Last major point. Being prepared for a pandemic is to be prepared for a black out, snow storm or job loss.
Yes there is alot of fear and doubt. H5N1 may become tamiflu resistant. While there is time read the documentation, watch the video at pandemicflu.gov, talk with frieds and co-workers, join those who getting ready.
Ask questions - there will be answers.
Kobie

kobie of WA 6:25PM January 08, 2009

Nancy,
Nothing in your article supports the statement that "public health officials worldwide have made huge progress in ... getting ready to produce vaccine and quarantine people."
There has been a small increase in the global capacity to produce influenza vaccine -- still less than about 500 million doses a year, for a planet with 6.4 billion people.
And small amounts of vaccine will only become available, at the earliest, about 6 months after a pandemic begins. Most people will not have access to vaccine until long after a pandemic has spread through their area.
No officials have said they have a good plan for "quarantining" people, and most models suggest quarantine will not slow the spread of flu by much.
Now, we all know that Tamiflu may or may not be effective against the eventual pandemic strain.
But tell me, please, why shouldn't I have a supply for my own family, for a time when it will be difficult and dangerous to go to medical locations full of flu-ish people? I have other emergency medications which my doctor trusts me to use properly if needed -- some of them much harder to use than Tamiflu. I'm sure not going to waste my Tamiflu on a mere cold or a seasonal flu when I can reach my doc easily to get whatever current flu drugs are most effective (not Tamiflu this year!). And I'm sure going to replace it when it expires.
Lastly, the celebratory pandemic flu exercises held by most states and counties trumpet how well they performed their mass flu vaccination drills. They never mention that in a pandemic, there won't be large amounts of vaccine to dispense -- and that the main issue will be guarding the small supply and the vaccinators against frightened angry masses.
Their vaccine drills are disingenuous -- but most of local officials don't even realize that. They are just so proud! I think this is their mental defense against the utter powerlessness they feel about the prospect of a pandemic, when they let themselves think about it.

Jody of NJ 10:48AM January 08, 2009

Thank you for the article as H5N1 has been ignored but has not gone away.
On Wednesday Jan 28th, 2008 the US dept of Health (HHS) will have its 9th webcast on pandemic plans. Source: http://www.pandemicflu.gov/news/panflu_webinar.html You can email your questions beforehand.
Sadly H5N1 or bird flu continues to spread around the world slowly like a bad weed. H5N1 just cropped up agin in a part of India resulting in killing thousands of chickens and export bans of eggs and poultry.
We still have no defense against it other than hand washing, social distancing and staying home.
Tamiflu has helped reduce the death rate to 62%. Mostly the 15 to 25 that die (source: http://www.wpro.who.int/NR/rdonlyres/FD4AC2FD-B7C8-4A13-A32C-6CF328A0C036/0/S4_1113.jpg)
GAO statement on public health preparedness
http://www.gao.gov/transition_2009/urgent/public-health.php
It is not all bad news. If you believe you can do something about global warming or autism, do know you can do something to protect yourself and others.
Official government site: pandemicflu.gov.
There are many others pandemic sites by citizens like www.getpandemicready.org Some have even written their own get prepared guides that have been reviewed nationwide.
Kobie
H5N1 pandemic wiki, answers and news posts at:
http://www.newfluwiki2.com/

Kobie of WA 4:29PM January 07, 2009