Avian Flu: Not to scare but to prepare mode

[ptrbryant]

Wow, I can't believe I've been on the disboards for so long and just now discovered the Community Board! Hi, everyone!

My cousin and I have been discussing the avian flu and the fact that it's traveled awfully far and fast lately. If you check out the ready.gov website, they suggest having emergency supplies on hand in case of anything from natural disasters to pandemics to terrorist attacks. My thinking is that it would make sense to have about 2 weeks worth of food, water and meds on hand---not so much that I think society will come to a screeching halt, but if the avian flu does become pandemic in the human populace, we'd want to limit how much we'd need to go out vs. a bit of self-isolation at home. Dh is pretty skeptical about the issue (think the y2k hype).

What's the general opinion here?

Karla B.

 

[ilovepcot]

I agree that some preparation may be prudent. Nearly all my friends just roll their eyes when the subject is brought up.

Oh...WELCOME to the community board. We sure have a great time here and I know you will, too!

 

[ahutton]

Okay, I admit I'm an insurance geek. Here is a document that was prepared for clients:

Most everyone has heard of the avian flu (or bird flu) by now. It’s been all over the media and raising a lot of questions and concerns. Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions Americans, as well as the rest of the world, are wondering about it.



What is it?
Avian flu is a type of virus that is common in wild birds. They usually do not get sick from the virus, but can easily pass it to birds raised for food—such as chickens, ducks, and turkeys.

Is Avian Flu Causing a Flu Pandemic?
No, but experts are concerned because it has completed two of the three steps needed for it to be considered a pandemic—step one being that it is a deadly strain to which humans do not have immunity to, and step two being that it has moved from birds to other animals. The only step remaining is for it to obtain the ability to easily pass from person to person.

How Do People Get Avian Flu?
Most of those infected had direct contact with sick or dead chickens.

Can I Get it From Eating Chicken or Other Poultry?
A small number of cases have occurred this way, but researchers say thoroughly cooking poultry will reduce the risk.

Is There a Treatment?
Researchers have not yet developed a vaccine to prevent it.

Should I Ask My Doctor for a Prescription Just in Case?
No! There is already a shortage of some of the drugs needed to treat people during the flu seasons.




When Will We Know More About Avian Flu?
State departments of public health are closely monitoring wild and domestic birds so they’ll know if avian flu appears in the U.S. They, along with the Center for Disease Control (CDC), are also monitoring flu outbreaks.

What Can I Do to Help Prevent Avian Flu?
Because there is no avian flu in the U.S. at this time, you can take these preventive measures:
 Get seasonal flu shots,
 Wash your hands frequently,
 Stay away from people who are sick, and
 Stay home if you are sick.

However, if you plan to travel to an area where the avian flu has been recently detected (Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand, or Vietnam) you should also do the following:
 Check with the CDC for any travel warnings (www.cdc.gov/travel).
 Avoid direct contact with poultry on farms and in marketplaces and surfaces that could be contaminated with bird feces or secretions.
 Tell your doctor immediately if you become ill with flu-like systems during travel or within 10 days of returning from one of the countries listed above.
 Avoid possibly spreading the flu to others by always covering your mouth with a tissue or your elbow when you cough—do not use your hand—it can spread the bacteria too easily.

For more information on avian flu, check out www.pandemicflu.gov

 

[Cindyluwho]

I'm gonna admit it! I'm one of those folks who keeps at least 2 weeks worth of food in the pantry. You just never know. Earthquake, snow storm, whatever - might as well be prepared. As far as my chickens go, we have all folks who own poultry walk through a bleach/water solution before they can come into our property. Just a precaution but in other states last year they ended up sending government workers onto folks property to euthanize ALL their chickens just because the flu had entered the county, even if they showed NO symptoms. The only flocks that were spared were those that the owners could prove that they'd followed all biohazard rules. Geez, I must sound like a nut but we do get concerned.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

Just tossed in disposable gloves,paper masks,bleach tablets and purell in with our Hurricane supplies.

We are on well water so the last Hurricane we had no water for a week and that was with localized Hurricane damage.

If we get a big one affecting more of New England it will take a lot longer to get the power back on to everyone.

{Actually ,yes, we have prepared but figure more people will be psychologically able to prepare for an already known risk of hurricanes rather than to add one more worry to the pile. I will also add some games and books for boredom in case people are told to stay home like for a 14 day snow advisory!}

Wishing the medical workers Godspeed in figuring how to combat spread of this Flu.

 

[PhotobearSam]

Well I am getting prepared. DH is not too concerned but I want to talk it over with Dad when he gets home from Florida. He will probably be like me.

We plan on getting a generator and have supplies for the whole famile.

Better safe than sorry...

 

[RitaZ.]

My opinion... there is nothing I can do to stop this from happening.

We are used to making preparations for hurricanes, so for us this would be equivalent. After going through a few hurricanes, I can tell you one is never as prepared as we think we are. Believe it or not, there are people that make zero preparations for hurricanes. We've never felt the need to buy a gun, but after living through Wilma (nothing compared to Katrina) I saw what people are capable of doing in a desperate situation.

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

from what I have read you need more like 4 to 5 weeks of supplies and it sounds like each region will cycle through these periods for as long as 2 years....I have started to slowly get some things stocked, but I am not sure we can be completly prepared....I am not really sure how to feel about it and just figure what I am doing is the same thing you should do to prepare for any other kind of disaster...I am not sure the regular paper masks will help, the guy on Oprah talked about a specific type of mask, and quite honestly you would need alot and be very careful about handling them..I THINK they said it would live on the outside of mask for three days...

 

[lsyorke]

\I am not sure the regular paper masks will help, the guy on Oprah talked about a specific type of mask, and quite honestly you would need alot and be very careful about handling them..I THINK they said it would live on the outside of mask for three days...

It's an N95 mask, and believe me you couldn't wear this mask for any length of time! We use them in the hospital now for TB cases and 1 hour is the max that most can tolerate.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Everyone still have your plastic & duct tape from last time, right?

Being from New England, we've got our regular stuff that we keep on hand for blizzards, power outages........

DH is military & would be issued what he needs. Still has gas masks & stuff.

 

[LisaR]

Well I am getting prepared. DH is not too concerned but I want to talk it over with Dad when he gets home from Florida. He will probably be like me.

We plan on getting a generator and have supplies for the whole famile.

Better safe than sorry...

Why would you need a generator for the bird flu?

 

[Msslaydbug]

I haven't started making preperations yet but I think I will start soon. Just need to stop procrastinating.

 

[Keli]

Wouldn't we all have to get out and go to work even if there ws a break-out? I guess I'm thinking that I couldn't afford for my dh and I to stay home from work for six weeks or so even if it did protect us from exposure to this virus.

 

[Planogirl]

Wouldn't we all have to get out and go to work even if there ws a break-out? I guess I'm thinking that I couldn't afford for my dh and I to stay home from work for six weeks or so even if it did protect us from exposure to this virus.

I was thinking the same thing. Plus I imagine that the schools would still be in session unless it got really bad.

 

[Free4Life11]

I honestly don't have a thing. Here in Nebraska we just rarely get severe weather

I did get a first aid kit, but aside from that I don't really have much stockpiled, except toothpaste and that has its own thread on Budget Board

I guess I'm not worried . I don't get sick often and only got the flu really badly once during high school. Aside from that I am fairly healthy.

 

[Mskanga]

I won't do anything different than I already do for snow storms or things of that sort. There's nothing I can do about the avian flu , I will worry when and if the time comes.

 

[Lynn CC]

I haven't prepared anything. I'm one of those week to week shoppers, if I have a weeks worth of food in the entire house it's amazing. After reading this I think I'll go to BJ's and stock up a little.

What are some food items you buy to stock up...aside from water (I do always have a lot of bottled water because we drink A LOT!?



DH has 3 air fed masks and buys the pure air filters that run off a pump that you charge, he uses them for spraying houses. I couldn't imagine how many filters 3 people would need to get through an extended period of time, quite a few hundred cases, and they cost almost $60 a filter (they've gone way up becasue of the war).

 

[Tantor]

Hubby's work is already preparing for it. He works for the hydro company here in Ontario. They are preparing for people to work from home.
The guy on Oprah said you will need more like 3 months worth of supplies. I have friends in the medical field who are directly working on preperation for this. Anything will help as we have no idea what the avian flu is going to affect. I have heard that as soon as it goes from one person to another it will be a matter of weeks before all h*** breaks loose.
I have been buying stuff every week. You never can be to prepared. Every little bit helps.
And yes, keeping healthy is one of the main things everyone can do.

 

[Trish Bessette]

I'm very concerned over this. I follow the news closely in regards to this topic. As many specialists say, it is not a matter or if it hits but WHEN.

If I can do anything ahead of time to protect my family I will. Afterall, what is bad about having enough food/water/supplies? I'd use it anyway in the event the bird flu never became a pandemic.

I always do have quite a bit of food at home however I'm more aware of stocking up on things like soap, laundry supplies, cleaning supplies, etc.

I've heard that if it does turn it a pandemic, it will take at least 6 months to go its way once it hits your area. They went on to say schools will be closed and most everyone will not be able to go to work, which could cause things to shut down such as electric, gas, etc.

With the spring migration of birds, they expect it to hit the US in 6 months. If it does, I hope were ready.

 

[nliedel]

If the Avian Flu, or any other flu we are not prepared for, gets into the population two weeks worth of food will not be enough. We keep three months worth on hand but have slacked about the water. If we even see the slightest indication that there is a problem we are pulling the kids from school immediatly and holing up here. My husband will be staying at his parents house for the duration (he works in a hospital but has no patient contact).

We don't stockpile anything we don't normally eat. About two weeks worth of frozen stuff in the freezer, soups, dry foods. We will not have enough vegetables but are working on it. This is not really a response to the flu as much as something we do as a family in case something comes up.