Swine Flu Problem?

[Texas_Bryan]

Man, this is just retarded!  Any of you guys remember the panic with SARS?  There were about 300-400 people killed from SARS, that's around6X10^-6 %, that's not even statistical significance.  I have no doubt this swine flu thing will be the same as with SARS.

Is it too much to hope for a good old plague?  Got to ruin our fun.

[Rastus]

Man, this is just retarded!  Any of you guys remember the panic with SARS?  There were about 300-400 people killed from SARS, that's around6X10^-6 %, that's not even statistical significance.  I have no doubt this swine flu thing will be the same as with SARS.

Could be retarded, but that's no reason to not keep a watchful eye out.  I remember the "old people" who would tell about the flu of 1918 or so...1/2 million U.S. citizens (28% +/- infection rate; 3-5% mortality) died in that one in a far less populated, and crowded nation.  I remember the Hong Kong flu in the late 60's, lot of people got sick and about the same number died then, 30k US, from it as each year now.  Statistically, that's not significant now...unless you're one of the ones that doesn't get better.

I agree, this may be a non-event.  It's easy to make some preparations in case wishful thinking to marginalize this illness doesn't work out.  Friday or Saturday should tell the story...if it's not a "raging fire" by then it's probably a non-event.  If you're old enough to remember "the old days" (I'm 52) then you can remember when people were still dying of minor things and were universally suffering early death from stroke, heart attack, virtually all cancer and other such things...if you're a bit younger, say 45 or less, that will have no meaning to you at all.  In the 50 year perspective all I'm saying is, if our health care expectations don't match modern performance on a bad "bug" most people will be in for a shock and won't know what to do.

Maybe merthiolate will come back into vogue...naw...too much mercury in it.  Do you other old guys remember merthiolate?  About 50% mercury..ahhh...the good old days.  Maybe even mercurochrome of which I still have a bottle (also about 50% mercury) unless the wife threw it out.

[Hazcat]

Remember them both, Ras.  Had the glass (later plastic) 'stick' on the cap to apply it.

I still use 'tincture of Arnica' for muscle strains and aches (HARD to find and EXPENSIVE!).

[fightingquaker13]

As someone who lives in hurricane country, I've said it before and I'll say it again, keep 3-4 weeks of food and water on hand. I'm not talking MREs, just non perishables that you'll eat any way, and that can be cooked on a camp stove or your gas grill. Just buy 4-5 propane tanks rather than 1-2. And don't buy one can of corn or black beans or jars of peanut butter, buy 5 and replace as you go. Bottled water lasts for a year, and we all drink it anyway. Again replace as you go. Also buy and use those little bottles of purell. Thnk about high risk items, shopping cart handles, money, public restrooms, door handles, elevators etc. This isn't paranoia. My Stepdad had cancer and a seriously compromised immue system. His doc told him to use the purell after touching any of the above. Normally, I don't. BUT with something like this out there, it takes no time, costs pennies, and can save your butt. Its just situational awareness in a different area.
FQ13

[MikeBjerum]

Back to basic Health classes that we used to get in school, and I actually got a review of in college in 1992 ... However, the traditional students were in awe, because they had never heard this stuff before:

Herd Immunity - An idea applied to humans coming out of animal husbandry where you don't go in other's barns, keep them out of yours, and don't mix your livestock.  This is a disease coming up from the south, so if you are in the midst of it you will need to take more precautions, but those of us at a distance need to stay within our own and take more precautions before mixing with you down there;

Personal Hygine - This has been touched on before, but wash your hands, and your whole body for that matter on a regular basis.  Most pathogens are removed by 20 seconds of brisk washing with basic soap;

Proper Nutrition - Eat healthy and balanced meals to keep yourself well fueled to fight off disease and injury;

Regular Exercise - Regular exercise and activity puts our body in a mode of being able to fight off attacks.  Something as basic as a thirty minute walk every other day has been shown to help, but a regular walk daily is better;

Sufficient Rest - Pace yourself, take a short break during the day, and get restful sleep every night.  Rest is another one of those things that helps your immune system fight.

Add all this to basic food preparation rules and good housekeeping, and we should have nothing to worry about.

As a former Boy Scout I still live "Prepared."  I keep mouse traps out, and that is how I find out I have mice (rather than waiting for them to invade and eat the food first), I fight bugs before they invade, I use "deet" as needed to prevent West Nile rather than fighting West Nile (by the way, I have had West Nile and it ain't fun), I use precautions concerning ticks to stop Lymes Disease before I get it ...

Basic life skills take the panic out of things like this.  Don't ignore it, but it is just another pebble in the path of life!  I know I am preaching to the choir, mostly, but most of the Country ain't in the choir.

[Sponsor]

[twyacht]

Remember them both, Ras.  Had the glass (later plastic) 'stick' on the cap to apply it.

I still use 'tincture of Arnica' for muscle strains and aches (HARD to find and EXPENSIVE!).

[/b]

My wife knows where there is tubes and tubes of Arnica. Let me know I'll send you a case.
Whole Foods

I remember Methiolate, my father would have the 15 year little jar in the med cab. That stuff "stung" like crazy..

My ol' man would laugh, tell me to "walk it off",....

Thank DAD.

[Hazcat]

[/b]

My wife knows where there is tubes and tubes of Arnica. Let me know I'll send you a case.
Whole Foods

I remember Methiolate, my father would have the 15 year little jar in the med cab. That stuff "stung" like crazy..

My ol' man would laugh, tell me to "walk it off",....

Thank DAD.

TW, thanks for the offer but I like the liquid.  The salve doesn't seem to have the same efficacy.

http://www.americarx.com/Products/5974.html

[twyacht]

From Haz,

TW, thanks for the offer but I like the liquid.  The salve doesn't seem to have the same efficacy.

Pretty Pricey Haz, I can make a gallon of Hazerita's for 1/2 that,...

Say with Jamaican Accent: "All da pain go away den mon!"

Have you given these a try, not as $.

http://www.mothernature.com/shop/detail.cfm/sku/56444

[Hazcat]

I'll have to give that a try.

[2HOW]

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=p&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.0004681a37b713f6b5950&ll=22.22809,-111.357422&spn=35.796953,63.896484&z=4

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