Remember to "follow the money", as well. I've never had a flu shot, and I have never had the flu. Coincidence?
Posted on 11/02/2002 5:53:50 AM PST by The Raven
Experts say governments across Europe need to plan for a virulent flu outbreak that could claim hundreds of thousands of lives.
Although the last two winters have brought only mild strains of flu to the UK, the viruses are constantly mutating and scientists say it is only a matter of time before a powerful strain emerges.
Whatever knowledge, technology and skills we develop, eventually it's the policy makers and the politicians that decide what is going to happen
Professor Albert Osterhaus, Erasmus University While it may not be as damaging as the 1918 "Spanish flu" that killed tens of millions in Europe alone, they say that the continent is not ready to cope with another pandemic.
This "superflu" is caused by an influenza virus, but its fatality rate is more reminiscent of lethal haemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola.
Previous versions, including the Spanish flu, had mutated into a form which the human immune system could not tackle.
It is possible that, at any time, the virus could mutate again and produce a strain that could share many of these lethal genetic characteristics.
Strategies
Virologists from throughout Europe are meeting in Malta this week to discuss the best strategy for first predicting, and then handling a major outbreak.
Albert Osterhaus, a professor of virology at Erasmus Univeristy in Rotterdam, said: "Whatever knowledge, technology and skills we develop, eventually it's the policy makers and the politicians that decide what is going to happen."
European citizens will expect everything possible to have been done at every level of public authority
Robert Coleman, European Commission Some experts have been looking at the genetic structure of the virus which caused the 1918 pandemic, as well as a serious outbreak in Hong Kong in 1997 for clues which may help doctors combat such an outbreak.
There were three flu pandemics in the last century, in 1918, 1957 and 1968.
Even though the 1957 and 1968 outbreaks were less severe than the Spanish flu, they still accounted for 40m deaths between them.
Overdue attack
Researchers suggest that an approximate 30 year cycle between pandemics means we are well overdue for another one.
Robert Coleman, the director general of health and consumer protection at the European Commission, said: "The action we take now will determine how well we combat the next major influenza threat we will face.
"European citizens will expect everything possible to have been done at every level of public authority.
"It will be several months at least after the start of the pandemic before a vaccine is available.
"Antiviral drugs could help during this period, but stockpiles would need to be in place well in advance. This is not yet the case."
dep
Thud!
g
Remember to "follow the money", as well. I've never had a flu shot, and I have never had the flu. Coincidence?
Amen! Sambucol ROCKS! I laugh at these people sucking down their mass-produced NyQuil, Robitussin, and such; which just MANAGE (and poorly, at that) their symptoms, while Sambucol gets in there and FLOORS the problem. I've turned LOTS of friends on to Sambucol, and I've seen it work when a cold or flu starts in on them. In addition to the other items you mentioned, I am also a BIG fan of 'Eucalyptus Radiata' essential oil. No needles/viral injections for me, thank you.
It works for me, and obviously, you, too!
g
Best to take Echinacea at the very onset of symptoms, and not for too long. It can be very helpful taken that way, by temporarily boosting white blood cell count. However, there's medical evidence to suggest that taking it for extended periods of time when you're healthy might actually weaken one's immune system. Same for Golden Seal.
My sister swears by Sambucol, and she hasn't had so much as the sniffles in years.
During the latter stage of World War I, Pittsburgh was hit with a severe epidemic of influenza. Medical historians believe it began in a U.S. Army barracks in Kansas in March of 1918 and, with alarming speed, spread through-out the world.
The epidemic was devastating--it killed twice as many people as were killed in the battles of the war.
It struck the Pittsburgh area in October and November of 1918 and claimed 4,500 lives. Some 22,000 cases were reported.
It was estimated that 500,000 people in the United States died of the flu.
Sadly, my Grandmother, only 17...died of this flu, leaving behind her 9 month old daughter...my Mom.
sw
Probably not. Generally, from year to year, the influenza virus mutates to create one or more new strains. (It has to do with the naked RNA or DNA which can be more easily made to mutate than the DNA in your cells, which is pretty well-protected inside a nucleus. I'm not sure whether the inflenza virus has DNA or RNA, nor if it has perhaps a small protein coat over the DNA/RNA. It's been a long time since I studied biology.) They usually are different enough that the immune system of someone who had the last strain of flu wont recognize the new one as flu, and their antiquated antibodies won't be effective against the new strain.
This is why you have to get a flu shot every year; last year's usually won't help much.
g
sw
Well I sometimes get a queasy stomach for a few hours when my relatives and neighbors are throwing up etc., and the only time I have been really sick with the flu was after the only flu shot I ever got which was in my first season in the Air Force. I managed to avoid the shot and the flu for the rest of my enlistment.
Subtext: A stockpile of anti-viral drugs could be useful against bioterror attacks.
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