Given what's happening in Turkey right now

[tavalon]

I thought it might be a good idea to post a basic, laymans article on what is being called bird flu, avian flu or by its technical term H5N1. I picked this one, not because it has any new information but because it is straight forward and has a picture of a healthcare provider wearing an N95 particulate respirator mask. I've recommended getting these before but I think people imagine something more like a gas mask.



Bird flu: Deadly epidemic or much to-do about nothing?
By Michele Linck, Journal staff writer

Bird flu. Is it a looming repeat of the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic which spread globally in four months and killed tens of millions of people? A rerun of the nearly forgotten 1976 swine flu epidemic that never materialized? Or something in between?

The honest answer is nobody knows. Yet. But experts agree that if we wait to act it will be too late.

And so the World Health Organization, United Nations and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and others are doggedly tracking bird, or avian, flu and devising global strategies for dealing with it should it cross to the human population. The Siouxland District Health Department, Woodbury County Emergency Services and Sioux City hospitals and their counterparts elsewhere in the United States, are getting ready locally. At least as ready as possible for a disease that has never threatened humans before.

<snip>

http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/articles/2006/01/08/news/local/a15f4bb0e6a45cf9862570f00011e296.txt


Another important website is www.pandemicflu.gov

[ClintonTyree]

1. I bought a case of 100 last year..........

from an industrial supply company and handed them out to my loved ones. I got the ones with the face shield as well. I did the research, regular surgical masks are almost no protection at all. I'm one of those people that like to be prepared ahead of time, not running around like a chicken with my head cut off when something does happen.
There they sit, gathering dust. Hopefully we'll never need them but if we do, we're prepared.

[Maddy McCall]

5. Hey...

I'm a first responder, and I want to purchase some of these. What brand/model did you purchase? I, like you, want some for myself and my family. And, like you, if I buy them and they sit gathering dust, I'll be just fine about it...I can use them for other things, like mowing, painting, cleaning the barn.

Thanks for any pointers you can give me.

[tavalon]

13. Last night I was doing some research

and while this is not an endorsement as I've never used their service, this website has pictures and stock numbers.

www.tasco-safety.com/respirator-dust-mask.html

[obxhead]

2. Wash you hands and open your windows to air out your surroundings

The "flu" is a virus.....

Antibiotics will not fight it....
There is no known medical technology that will "save" you.

H5N1 may be a true threat but IMO I see it only as another distraction (and money laundering pit) by the grand poobah and his admin.

[Maddy McCall]

4. What's sad is that many people have your opinion...

and I don't blame you or anyone else for holding your opinion.

We've heard that the sky is falling so many times that, when a true threat is present, many people will just ignore and disregard it as another instance of fear-mongering by this administration.

I was kinda like you a couple of weeks ago...but then people started dying in Turkey, and it's not been established yet if the virus was passed from bird to person or from person-to-person.

It's migrating westward. It will eventually show in the US. We are due a devastating flu pandemic. I'd rather err on the side of being too safe.

I'm a first responder, and, no matter what the emergency, I'll be expected to respond. I'd rather have 100 of these inexpensive masks and not need them than need them and not have them.

[obxhead]

6. I err on the side of safety as well...

I just find that the "minimal" response that our government has taken is quite simply a waste of time, a lot of money and a false hope for those in the most danger.

Good hygiene and sanitary living conditions (airing out your living space) may provide the best defense against any flu including H5N1. From the reading I've done we have no drugs (the flu, any flu, is a virus) that can truly prevent or fight off this event.

I would be happy to read (and become more informed) of any and all sources of reference that will help me fight the event of a catastrophic flu that can and will eventually happen.

[Maddy McCall]

7. The bad thing about the flu is that you don't contract it at home...

you pick it up at work, or shopping, or at church, or wherever you go that people congregate. Yes, washing your hands will help, but if it's airborne, and if you, for instance, shop for groceries or other necessities, a mask will be a life-saving thing to have around.

I don't think buying the masks is overreacting, but I think stocking up on Tamiflu is. I read that one DUer spent about $2000 on enough Tamiflu for his whole family, because he was afraid of the bird flu. But already it's been shown that H5N1 is Tamiflu resistant. So, not only is this guy guilty of hoarding a medicine that will be needed for other flu strains this year, but the very medicine he's hoarding won't help if bird flu strikes. I couldn't help but laugh at his predicament, after I heard that H5N1 doesn't respond to Tamiflu.

If you want to know what will happen if a catastrophic flu hits the US, just read about what happened to American Indian populations when smallpox and other Euro diseases hit them.

I thought about it a couple of days ago...not only will there be a shortage of just about EVERY consumer good (including groceries) but there will be a shortage of needed service providers== doctors, police, and other emergency personnel...it could be total chaos.

With American Indians, smallpox and other Euro diseases caused complete societal dislocation. A catastrophic flu could have the same result for Americans.

[obxhead]

8. Right you are....

What kind of masks would you recommend?

I truly believe that face masks may (will) be the only real defense against "the flu".

My only problem with the whole "bird flu" is the over reaction with a serious lack of reality based recourse against a truly possible (and upon a long enough time-line, definite) occurrence.

[tavalon]

12. I know you asked maddie

but I have some personal experience and will get you a couple of stock numbers. If you look at the picture in the article that I referenced, you will see the nurse wearing an N95 particulate mask made by Kimberly Clark that we in the biz affectionately call the duck bill. Look closely, you'll see why. 3M has one that looks more like an oval, usually white. I wore that one a few years ago and found it a little more comfortable than the duckbill but if a person has a large face or a large nose, I suspect they will find the duckbill variety more comfortable. One important point is that it must fit snugly against all portions of your face. Both kinds have a nose piece that crimps to your nose, and you have to make sure the mask is contacting at all sides. With the duckbill, the bottom part goes under your chin and therefore makes it very important that you get the right size. Also, men would do well to shave off facial hair to ensure a good fit.

www.tasco-safety.com/respirator-dust-mask.html shows good examples of most all of the types of the N95 particulate masks. I'm not endorsing them, I haven't bought from them, they just have a good display and explanation of each.

Having worn the 3M lowest line and the Kimberly Clark duckbill many times for my work I can give you my personal view about them. It seemed a bit easier to breath in the 3M but the duckbill, for me, is easier to fit to my face. I'm so not looking forward to using these when the time comes, just using them for an hour at a time is sheer hell. I'm thinking about checking into the 3M with the one way valve to assist with breathing or with a duckbill brand that has many folds for the same purpose.

[tavalon]

11. Yeah, while I think Tamiflu

needs to be stockpiled by the WHO so they can get it to hotspots and I hope at higher doses and for longer duration it may be of some help but it's not part of my personal plan. N95 particulate masks most definitely is. That and being very educated and very vigilant are the best any of us can do. That and good handwashing technique.

[tavalon]

10. Exactly

We've been fear inured by this fearmongering administration and now that something truly scary needs our careful attention (not our terror, our attention) many are so jaded and so used to blaming this administration (and rightly so) they are going to be caught without the necessary prep they will need to lessen the damage to their family and their life.

[Maddy McCall]

3. There are so many n95 masks out there.

What's best? Disposables? More sturdy ones that can be worn more than once?

I'm a first responder in my county, and I'm going to talk to the fire chief about ordering some of these. Can you suggest the best brands, models?

[tavalon]

9. I'm a nurse so the only ones I've ever worn are the disposeable ones

I find the 3M to be more comfortable and the current one my hospital uses is the one made by Kinberly Clark. We call them the duckbills. If you look closely at the picture connected with the article, that nurse is wearing a duckbill. Both of these brands are really hard to breath through. I did some looking around last night and found that 3M has one that has a one way valve on it that would make it much easier to breathe in and therefore use for long periods. These are also disposeable and probably twice the cost of the regular 3M masks. Because you are discussing a first responder use, OSHA will not allow you to have any but disposeable. They will actually last 24 hours unless visably stained but you are supposed to only use that same mask with one person so as to minimize the possibility that you will spread something from patient to patient. When we use them in the hospital, it is generally with a patient who has tuberculosis and we do use the same mask each time. We place the mask in a ziploc on the cart outside their door. If I had two patients who had tuberculosis, I would just be expected to throw away my mask after each visit.

I'll find some model numbers for you in a bit. The munchkin is screaming for breakfast.

[Glidescube]

14. art imitates life

I think we should all read Stephen King's "The Stand" while there is still time.

*shudders* at Capt Crips.

[tavalon]

15. Well,

His flu was 99.6% fatal if I recall. Worst case scenario, this one is 50% lethal and I hope that will go down if it becomes able to pass from human to human more efficiently.