[Judith Anne]

Here we go, folks! Suggestions and questions for preparing for Avian Flu in the US, your community, home care, etc. welcome here.

[Judith Anne]

Pinging everyone to the new thread.

[Gabz]

Sometimes human nature seems to work against our own well being. Take the subject of disaster. When it looms, we pay heed. When it seems far off, we are, to put it charitably, less attentive.


In recent days scientists have warned about a possible avian flu pandemic so deadly that the future of the civilization is at stake. The journals Foreign Affairs and Nature devoted large sections of their publications to warning the world about it.


Such an outbreak could make the 1918 Spanish influenza outbreak look small. Somewhere between 20 and 100 million people died in that disaster. If a strain of avian flu known as H5N1 jumps from birds to humans, then from human to human, no one knows how many might die. There too many "ifs" involved.


But we now know that migratory birds are spreading the disease out of China, where it apparently originated. The virus has jumped from chickens to waterfowl to pigs to humans. At least 54 people contracted the virus from animals and died. So far, it has not jumped from human to human.


Viruses are unpredictable. Cry wolf too often and legitimate warnings go unnoticed. Inattention could lead to an even more deadly outbreak.


Prudence, a rare virtue, is what we should be after. Public officials and citizens alike should press for contingency plans to deal with food and medical shortages and other emergencies. We should do it even without the scare headlines.

[Gabz]

Prudence, a rare virtue, is what we should be after.

Public officials and citizens alike should press for contingency plans to deal with food and medical shortages and other emergencies.

We should do it even without the scare headlines.

[Myrddin]

Drudge has a link referencing avian flu in Russia now. Looks like the ball is rolling. Your timing for this thread looks appropriate.

[nsidetrk]

Thanks for starting this thread. It could prove to be very helpful.

[terilyn]

I'd like to be added to the list please and thank you.

And thank you for putting all of this in one place.

[_Jim]

Marking for future reference.

[mitchbert]

Thanks for this. Please add me to the list, JA.

[Jedidah]

Thanks for the ping.

[Supercomputer One]

Out went faith and good action and lo-and-behold in flew Enza !

[patriciamary]

PLEASE PUT ME ON THE LIST, THANK YOU.

[Darnright]

Thanks for starting this thread.

[little jeremiah]

Thanks. I'll post some info tomorrow.

[EBH]

How to properly Don and Doff

Donn
1. Before handling any type of mask/respirator make sure your hands have been washed with soap and water. You may wish to wash your face as well.
2. Do not touch an interior portion of the mask/respirator while donning.
3. Hold the mask against your face and using your freehand move the straps into position or using both hands hold the straps guide the mask into position over your mouth and nose, secure straps.
4. Perform a fit check to check for leaks. Do this by first gently inhaling; do you feel any streams of air around the perimeter of the mask? If so, the mask is not properly seated and needs to be adjusted. Exhale with moderate force, again paying attention to any streams of air that slip out around the perimeter of the mask, these are leaks and the mask is not seated properly to protect you.
5. A leaky fit will not protect you; you might as well not bother wearing the mask if you’re going to not do a fit check.

Doffing
1. This is the most important step and you may want to practice this several times as the mask will be contaminated (hot) when you go to remove it. The mask will be hot, along with the straps, and any exposed parts of your face, hair, and hands.
2. Wash your hands before attempting to remove the mask. Some may prefer to add some latex/surgical gloves at this point. I personally do not see it as necessary as long as one follows the proper hand washing technique.
3. Handle the mask or parts as little as possible. Grasp the straps; remove from behind your ears and dispose of the mask directly into the trash.
4. Immediately wash your hands and face or shower directly. If one donned gloves at this point carefully remove the gloves being sure to do in a fashion that they come off your hand inside out. Again, still wash up even if you wore gloves.

Lastly, if you have been out in public consider that all exposed body parts and clothing may be contaminated, you may want to change clothes when arriving home. Key word is may be contaminated and would be dependent upon the circumstances.

[little jeremiah]

More information on handwashing:


N.C. study: Germs can't fight soap, water - researchers test hand-washing methods
Myrtle Beach Online N.C. study: Germs can't fight soap, water
Researchers test hand-washing methods
The Associated Press
Posted on Sat, Mar. 12, 2005

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Mom was right.
A new study by infection-control specialists at UNC Hospitals confirms that the best way to get germs off your hands is with plain old soap and water.
The researchers tested 14 hand-hygiene agents plus tap water against specific bacteria and viruses applied to the hands of 62 adult volunteers. Soap and water, or microbial soap and water, proved the most effective at removing viruses and bacteria.
"Based on these findings, I'd put my hands in my mouth after routine sink washing for 10 seconds," said Emily Sickbert-Bennett, a public-health epidemiologist with the University of North Carolina's Health Care System and the UNC School of Public Health.
Sickbert-Bennett is the lead author of the study, conducted as part of her UNC public-health master's degree work from 2000 to 2002 and published in the March issue of the American Journal of Infection Control.
The study divided the hand-washing agents into three methods: five waterless alcohol-based rubs, two waterless hand wipes with chemicals, five hand-wash products with anti-microbial agents, plain soap without antibacterials and tap water alone.
The volunteers doused their hands in common, hardy strains of a bacteria and virus, washed their hands using one of the methods for 10 seconds and then measured the quantity of remaining germs.
They repeated the steps 10 times to measure each method's effectiveness after repeated exposures.
After just one wash, hand gels and soaps worked about the same, removing 99 percent of the bugs.
But after multiple washes, regular soap and warm water was most effective at removing the virus. For bacteria, anti-microbial soap was the most effective, removing 99 percent of bacteria after multiple washes. Regular soap and water was the next most effective, followed by tap water alone, then hand rubs, the researchers found.
Hand wipes were the least effective, getting just half the germs.
The germs used in the study are more hardy than the flu virus, Sickbert-Bennett said, so any cleansing method capable of wiping out the test virus is almost certain to be even more effective against flu.
The UNC researchers looked at 10-second scrubs, rather than longer washes studied in past trials, because they found that 10 seconds is the average time UNC health care personnel actually spend washing their hands.
Soap and water works better over repeated use because water removes germs by washing them down the drain, Sickbert-Bennett said.

[little jeremiah]

INFORMATION ABOUT ESSENTIAL OILS AND THEIR ANTI-VIRAL AND ANTI-BACTERIAL USES -

Here’s some information I gleaned from books in my possession. Additionally, here are a couple of lists of essential oils which are considered to have either anti-bacterial and/or anti-viral properties. Not much experimentation has gone on using essential oils, especially in the US. Which is too bad, since E.O.s are relatively inexpensive and most have many therapeutic uses. Another herb which has had a lot of experimentation is Neem, which is not usually available as an oil. It is said to have a very wide specturm anti-bacterial and anti-viral potency. You can make a strong Neem tea, strain the leaves, and add essential oils for a wide spectrum anti-septic household spray, and it is very useful for traveling as well.

Essential oils can be dropped on the shirt collar to breathe (often makes a mark), dropped on a cotton ball and put in your pocket, there are portable diffusers that you can even wear around your neck, and use on the table or desk. They can be diluted in oil and rubbed on the skin, or in water and sprayed. A few drops could be placed on a mask.

I order most of my oils and herbs from Starwest Botanicals – you can order by phone or catalog. Their phone is 800-800-4372. (Naturally I have no vested interest in this company! I have just ordered from them for many years and am satisfied with their quality and customer service.) I have also ordered bulk dried herbs from them and just received a couple of pounds of dried Elderberries. I order with a wholesale account, which is not hard to qualify for, and gives you a very good discount - much, MUCH cheaper than buying oils retail. If any of you have any questions about essential oils and their uses, don’t hesitate to freepmail LJ and I will respond to the best of my ability.

If any of you are seriously interested in learning about essential oils, these are some books I have and like.

The Art of Aromatherapy --- Robert Tisserand
Aromatherapy – to Heal and Tend the Body --- Robert Tisserand (very good scientific explanations of how and why essential oils work)
The Aromatherapy Book --- Jean Rose
375 Hydrosols and Essential Oils --- Jean Rose
Aromatherapy Workbook --- Marcel Lavabre (very good scientific explanations of how and why essential oils work, with much botanical info)


(Don’t be put off by the French names. French doctors have done quite a bit of research into plant derived essential oils – EVERYTHING French isn’t bad….)

Oils generally considered to have anti-bacterial properties: (those with a * I have used and consider very useful). I am leaving out oils which are either very expensive or rare and hard to find.

NOTE!!!!!It’s VERY VERY important when using essential oils to be very sparing, they are extremely concentrated. Do NOT apply neat to the skin except for Lavender which is the best cure for burns that I know. I applied Oregano oil when I first got some neat to a wart, as I had read it gets rid of them. It got rid of the wart all right. But the pain was intense, for a couple of days. It has to be used in dilution VERY carefully. Many of these oils below may also have anti-viral properties.

* Bergamot *Clove
* Cinnamon
* Eucalyptus
*Fir
*Grapefruit
*Lemon
* Juniper
* Lavender
Niauli
* Peppermint
* Pine
* Rosemary
*Oregano
*Spruce
Savory
*Tea Tree
*Thyme

The oils below are considered to have anti-viral properties, same symbol use as above:

Artemisia
*Bergamot
*Eucalyptus
*Grapefruit
*Geranium
Melissa
*Lemon
*Tea Tree
*Thyme

Most essential oils (with some EXTREMELY IMPORTANT EXCEPTIONS) can be taken internally but only in extreme dilution and ONE DROP AT A TIME. Keep in mind that often hundreds of pounds of plant material are needed to produce one kilo of oil. It's better not to use internally unless you really know what you're about. We use citrus oils internally when sick, they're quite safe if you use ONE DROP only in a cup of water.

There are many other oils which are listed as basic “anti-septics” such as Basil, Black Pepper, Cardamom, Cedar, Cypress, Fennel, Marjoram and even Patchouli. In fact, most essential oils have some measurable anti-bacterial or anti-viral potential. My personal favorites for all purpose anti-septic purposes are the citrus oils and evergreen oils. They are among the cheapest and most potent, and Oregano as it is extremely powerful. A good mix I use would consist of Pine, Oregano, Eucalyptus, Grapefruit, Lemon and Fir or Spruce. How much Essential oil to use? I use approximately 40 drops to a pint or more of water, add to a spray bottle, and shake and spray. Sometimes I add a tiny bit of liquid soap to make it more dispersable.

I consider that the natural world, being created by God, has myriad uses for human benefit. I don’t discount the miracles of modern medicine – but herbs and other natural products often have incredible healing power, and often any side effects are minimal compared to some of the devastating effects of pharmaceuticals. I have studied natural healing methods for many years, and there is a lot of bogus wackiness out there. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t very good methods that we can use for our betterment.

***I have information I got from the internet about the potency of Essential Oils if anyone wants more corroboration.

[Americalover]

It is past time to pressure congress and the president to act aggressively. If there isn't profit in flu vaccines, subsidize manufacturers! If that won't work the government should build the plants. There are problems that aren't best left to the private sector, this is one.

Republicans have a majority; it's time to use that power. I for one won't complain if my tax dollars are spent to build a factory to produce massive amounts of antivirals.

This is no time to be passive; it is time to scream like your life depends on it.

[King Prout]

My employer, an Internal Medicine practitioner, wants a H5N1 symptom list, ASAP and PDQ if not RTFN.

[I'm ALL Right!]

Add me to the list, please. Thanks

[SamiGirl]

Please add me to your ping list. Thanks.