Bird Flu

[Ghoulish Delight]

Yeah, I'm with MF on West Nile and SARS.

It's good that it's being thought about at a high level. Good perparation will minimize the effect. Remember, best case scenario is that in 10 years we all say, "Pfft, remember what a big deal they made about bird flu?" Well, making that big deal may be what keeps it a small deal.

But practically, the best thing you can do is wash your hands, keep tabs on your own health, clean and cook all your food well, and keep in contact with your doctor. Hmmm, that's kinda what I do all the time anyway.

[wendybeth]

Well, I try not to stay in too close of contact with my doc, GD. She's around sick people all day!

I like the fact that they are starting to put sanitizers next to grocery carts, etc. They are riddled with germs, as are hotel room remotes, public telephones, etc. I should probably actually start using the sanitizers, though.

[Drince88]

Originally Posted by wendybeth

Well, I try not to stay in too close of contact with my doc, GD. She's around sick people all day!

I like the fact that they are starting to put sanitizers next to grocery carts, etc. They are riddled with germs, as are hotel room remotes, public telephones, etc. I should probably actually start using the sanitizers, though.

Wow! You have sanitizers near the grocery carts (or as the locals here call them, Buggies!) -- Right now, we're lucky if we have produce bags in the produce department (lately it's been mostly the general grocery bags in the produce department) -- but even without all the normal hardships, I will be VERY surprised if we get that kind of a thing!

[Not Afraid]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

So once again you live up to your name.

Well, I figure I can spend my time worrying and fretting over things I have little control over and therefore shorten my life and lessen the quality, or I can just be a happy camper while I'm here.

[€uroMeinke]

I'm not sure how one would prepare for it - it's not like you can make a Bird Flu Preparedness kit, like you would for Earthquakes or other natural disasters.

I also think, Bird Flu may be a big distractor - Viruses mutate and speread in a number of ways. The thing that will get us is the one beneath the radar. Just think about AIDS, how long it took to even figure out what was going on, how many people died before anyone knew what it was, how to diagnose it, or even treat it. Heck, how many people are still dying in Africa.

[Prudence]

I worry better than anyone else I know. And I do worry a bit about bird flu. Not too-afraid-to-go-outside worry, but I do sometimes think about what I would do if there were an outbreak. (This applies to West Nile, SARS, and any other infectious disease transmittable through everyday contact. (As opposed to bloodbourne pathogens.))

I have asthma. So does much of my family. Mine is actually pretty well under control right now. I haven't used either of my inhalers in ages. Still, when I get sick, the congestion heads right to my chest. I've had to seek medical treatment after a garden variety cold. I'm afraid of the regular flu and get a flu shot every year -- have for as long as they've been regularly available from the doc. It's terrifying to feel like you can't breathe, and whenever I get sick I have to plan for what I will do if I need to get treatment quickly. (For example, having transportation readily available.)

Buying and using my treadmill are the biggest steps I've taken toward improving my survival chances. I may not make it down to beauty pagent weight, but I can sure increase my overall health. In fact, it's since I 've been using the treadmill regularly that I haven't had to use my inhaler very often. I should -- and could -- do more, I suppose.

[Moonliner]

Tredmill? No need for that, just try my easy and fun Disney work out...

1. Enter the main gate an go ride (In this order)
1. Roger Rabbit
2. Indy
3. Space Mtn
4. Splash Mtn.
5. Buzz
6. HM
7. Peter Pan
etc..

You get exercise and have fun at the same time.

Or you could just follow GD and CP on 1/2 of a MouseAdventure but that's for the advanced Disney workout student only.

[tracilicious]

Eh. I was pretty worried when I first heard about it. Then I found out that the media had conveniently forgotten to mention that you can only get it from a bird. IF it mutates, then I will worry about it in an appropriate fashion.

In the meantime, we'll continue to keep our immune systems strong by taking vitamins and acidophilus, and eating healthy. We don't get flu shots because I refuse to put mercury and countless carcinogens into mine or my children's body. I would have to think pretty hard about a bird flu vaccine though. Then again, if it's as deadly as the media is trying to portray it, those that are going to die will probably be dead by the time a vaccine comes into circulation.

[Matterhorn Fan]

Originally Posted by Moonliner

Tredmill? No need for that, just try my easy and fun Disney work out...

1. Enter the main gate an go ride (In this order)
1. Roger Rabbit
2. Indy
3. Space Mtn
4. Splash Mtn.
5. Buzz
6. HM
7. Peter Pan
etc..

You get exercise and have fun at the same time.

Or you could just follow GD and CP on 1/2 of a MouseAdventure but that's for the advanced Disney workout student only.

Level 2:

1. Take 1-2 trips through Tarzan's Treehouse (for cardio & lower body).
2. Ride the Canoes twice (once on the right and once on the left, for an even upper-body workout). OR, for variety, try to make those teacups spin.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Personally worried? No, not really. 1- worrying won't help, 2- if it gets to be bad, we'll hear about it, 3- I think it's really being over-hyped.

I'm not particularly a worrier. The thing that's bad about these diseases that jump from an animal to a human is that we have no immunity. It's different enough from the prior viruses that we don't know how to recognize it as an intruder. The vaccine will help that.

My favorite quote was the lead-in to a story about the Bird Flu on the Daily Show- "The Bush White House has been plagued with one piece of bad news after another. Historically, you know what that means- it's nation-scaring time!"

Mostly I feel bad for people in those Asian countries who raise birds and have to kill them all (and of course can't sell them) trying to contain the infection.