What to Do About Piggy Flu

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jimtzu

When dealing with the insane, the best method is to pretend to be sane. ~ Hermann Hesse

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[Liz]

Right Francis, I'm more than happy to have an honest conversation about what is going on here.

A couple of weeks back I posted a wee story about my Findhorn weekend, mainly cos I know Henry likes the place and wanted to hear it. YOu came out like a rottweiller, apparently taking offence at the speaker. I chose to attend the event, but that doesn't make me accountable for the guy. Anyway, you calmed down, it seemed, a couple of days later.

This time, I made 2 posts. One I believe saying I didn't intend to get caught up in media hype at this stage..and a second in response to your frankly vitriolic attack, showing I wasn't out of line with Public Service Information currently being issued in the UK. I don't know where you are , you may have different information, but passing on what is being given to the public here as advice from the Public Health people is not irresponsible in any way that I can see. YOu may not agree with that information, but that is no reason to launch a personal attack.

Are you just a grumpy man, or did I do something to annoy you in a previous life or something. I rarely meet such hostility. I'm not terribly bothered by it, it seems quite clear to me which one of us has the problem. But if you have something to say, go for it, I'm a big girl. Please don't squeal about your high standards of authenticity and little homilies on video as an excuse for your own rudeness. There's a big difference between basic courtesy and happy talk, I think I can tell the difference.

Liz

[Michael]

I love a good pun...

[Daniel]

Ok, so I'm not perfect.  But Franics, please use a more authoritative resource than a corporate website which does state this by the way

"TAMIFLU is not a substitute for the flu shot; vaccination is the first line of defense for flu protection."

Granted, there is no serum for the Swine. I would trust Wiki more than the Tamiflu website. Although Wiki isn't perfect either

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oseltamivir

But I will restate strongly, the first line of defense is good hand washing. Airborn particles are included in that, even if you don't go everywhere with a mask...which are useless if they are not airtight around your face and filter the size of the virus. So back to square one...wash your hands because protecting yourself from airborn sources is pretty hard as a layman in public settings.

About N95 masks

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/n95list1.html

http://www.ph.ucla.edu/EPI/bioter/n95masks.html


Although anthrax spores and smallpox aren't paint chips, the masks do provide protection against bioterrorism, since the most likely used bacterium would be dispersed in particle form, Utgoff says. In fact, the anthrax mail attacks first spotlighted the N95, as office mailrooms scurried for protective gear.

The N95 is made by various manufacturers under different names, from MSA's "Affinity Foldable Respirator" to 3M's "Particulate Respirator." Look for "NIOSH N95" on the package; the "N95" is a government efficiency rating that means the mask blocks about 95 percent of particles that are 0.3 microns in size or larger.

The N95 rating meets the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for protection against tuberculosis and anthrax spores, as well as the most foreseeable bioweaponry, which ranges in size from 1.0 to 5.0 microns. So the N95s are more than capable of preventing their inhalation.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.), a physician and public health expert, upped the masks' visibility even more recently when he advised that people keep a mask rated N95 or better on hand for each member of the family in his book "When Every Moment Counts."


...the mask blocks about 95 percent of particles that are 0.3 microns in size or larger

so if the Swine Flu is 0.3 microns or larger, then you are covered... if you want to wear the damn things all day and night 

[Francis]

Daniel, I’m not prefect either. No bid deal, we’re here to iron out these issues.

Liz, lighten up.  I did.

Tamiflu inhibits the proliferation of the virus and it thereby gives the body a chance to develop its own immunity because it prevents the body from being overwhelmed by the proliferation of viruses, giving the immune system a chance to develop its own antibodies. It buys time and the healthier an immune system is, the less time it needs to build up a defense.

"TAMIFLU is not a substitute for the flu shot; vaccination is the first line of defense for flu protection."

The manufacturer’s website does not want to discourage people from getting flu shots in general just because there are anti-virals available. That’s why they say that. In this case there is no vaccine and the two antivirals are appropriate for treatment.

I’ve referenced the CDC and the California state health department:


"CDC recommends the use of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the treatment and/or prevention of infection with swine influenza viruses. ~ http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/antiviral.htm

CDPH recommends the limited use of treatment and prophylaxis with either oseltamivir or zanamivir to reduce the level of severe disease and mortality that may be caused by swine influenza.
Antiviral treatment should be considered for confirmed, probable or highly suspected cases of swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) virus (S-OIV) infection. Treatment is recommended for hospitalized patients and patients at higher risk for severe influenza.
Antiviral chemoprophylaxis is recommended for:

• Household close contacts of a confirmed, probable or highly suspected case who are at high-risk for severe influenza

• Health care workers or public health workers who were not using appropriate personal protective equipment during close contact with an infectious case that is confirmed, probable, or highly suspected.

• Patients at high-risk for severe influenza who have had close contact with an infectious health care worker who is a confirmed or probable case.

http://ww2.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/discond/Documents/CDPH_Clinician_Guidance_on_Antivirals_5-03-2009.pdf

[Liz]

Fairy nuff.............passing round the chill pills:-)
Liz

[Francis]

"There is another way of communicating, where you try to understand what the other person thinks and feels, and try to express what you think and feel, without trying to impose either as the correct way, where you have the kind of respectful dialogue that you can't achieve simply by being loving or having good intentions. You have to know the mechanics of how to have that kind of respectful dialogue. Many, many difficult conversations then become much, much easier."

http://www.psychicdevelopment.cc/articles/archive101702.htm



In a way, Tamiflu acts like a vaccine. Many vaccines contain dead or inactivated versions of the target virus. These inactive versions nonetheless activate the immune system and stimulate the body to produce antibodies that are effective against the active version of the virus. The vaccine gives the immune system time to forge a defense before the real threat comes. Tamiflu works by inactivating part of the virus's replication process and this gives the immune system time to design and construct the antibodies that will be effective. So it's a similar strategy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vaccine