Americans told to wear masks as swine flu spreads round globe

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

In the US, doctors were advising people worried about the illness to buy painters’ masks from DIY stores as a precautionary measure. Authorities across the globe were torn between the imperative of slowing the spread of a potential flu pandemic and the need to avoid bringing every big city to a grinding halt.

Tonight the US authorities were still allowing people to cross the border from Mexico, where it is thought that the swine flu emerged, but Customs officials at the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa crossings were given protective clothing.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/h...icle6173927.ece

[tallcoolone 102]

Michael Jackson was ahead of his time........

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Did anyone else go out and buy hand sanitizer? I'm going to get masks. This is serious.

[tallcoolone 102]

Did anyone else go out and buy hand sanitizer? I'm going to get masks. This is serious.

You got to be kidding

We had the Swine Flu went thru the US back in the 70's. More people got sick from the immunization than they did the flu itself.

Been there, Done That........................

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Did anyone else go out and buy hand sanitizer? I'm going to get masks. This is serious.

No, I don't do Purell and I'm not wearing any masks.

But I may WFH more

[one...two...tree 2,762]

Did anyone else go out and buy hand sanitizer? I'm going to get masks. This is serious.

No, I don't do Purell and I'm not wearing any masks.

But I may WFH more

[Bobby+Umit 161]

Did anyone else go out and buy hand sanitizer? I'm going to get masks. This is serious.

Most Surgical masks will not stop viruses. The bug is too small. They have to specifically be for virus protection. Plus you have to fit them properly. Having a facial hair would prevent a good seal.

Also - it doesn't protect your eyes, viruses can get in that way.

If you get hand sanitizer - make sure you get "anti-bacterial", but then you have to worry about it getting resistant to it.

Some tips:

•Avoid crowds the more people you come close to the bigger your risk of catching something. Being crammed into a commuter train probably isn't a good idea.

•Wear a face mask but viruses are small enough to get through some face masks. Some such as Nanomask claim to stop viruses.

•Turn away from sneezes if someone sneezes turn away and shut your eyes: virus in sneeze mist can enter via your eyes.

•Don't shake hands viruses love to spread that way, from hand to hand.

•Don't touch your face the virus can linger on your hands: touch your eyes, nose or mouth and you could get infected.

•Wear goggles goggles can stop the virus getting in via the moisture around your eyes: goggles stop cough and sneeze droplets and they stop you inadvertently rubbing your eyes.

•Wash your hands regularly particularly after shaking hands. Keep your fingernails clean, viruses love to lurk there. Carry hand-wipes alcohol wipes when out and about, have a pack of antiseptic wipes on your desk.

•Cleanliness is next to Godliness the virus can survive for hours on door handles and other surfaces so keep everything clean.

•Wear gloves gloves may help but get the virus on your gloves and then pick your nose and you're back to square one.

•Stay fit and well if you're unwell your resistance is lowered - usual stuff: eat fruit and vegetables, don't smoke, drink only in moderation. Moderate exercise helps but apparently too-strenuous exercise can make you more susceptible to viruses.

•Avoid osculation - that's kissing could sticking your tongue into someone Else's mouth give you the virus?

Simply washing your hands, not touching your face, mouth, eyes, will do wonders.

And when you wash them, really wash them. Tops, bottoms, sides, under nails. Sprinkle of water will not suffice.

(on the flip side - people with the bug can help stop the spread by wearing face masks... go figure...)

Edited April 27, 2009 by Bobby_Umit

[Ban Hammer 14,573]

looks like a good time to live in the country.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Did anyone else go out and buy hand sanitizer? I'm going to get masks. This is serious.

No, I don't do Purell and I'm not wearing any masks.

But I may WFH more

It truly is. I live within 2-3 miles of Rutgers, but they went on spring break over a month ago.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

It’s No Time for Hysteria Over New Flu

By SUSAN DOMINUS

Nobody panic. The government may be spending its last dime on the bailout package, but it’s apparently filthy rich with stockpiles of Tamiflu. We’ve been told that officials can mobilize ventilators on the turn of a dime (which is supposed to be reassuring). And the cases of swine flu confirmed at St. Francis Preparatory School in Queens appear, so far, to be relatively mild.

Besides, it’s not as if there aren’t guidelines on how to handle even scarier outbreaks of influenza than this one. Consider “Preparing for Pandemic Avian Flu: Family and Neighborhood Readiness Workbook,” published in 2006 by Joe and Rita Sterling, a couple whose vague online biography says that they have been “guiding corporations and communities to succeed for nearly two decades.” (Avian flu, which can be deadly in humans, is different from the H1N1 swine flu now causing illnesses from Mexico to St. Francis, but it’s interesting reading nonetheless.)

“What if there is lawlessness?” asks a hypothetical question in the 150-page book. “I need to protect my family and myself. What are essential safety items to have?” The authors note that this is “a very personal question, of course” (of course!), and advise neighborhoods to start having group conversations about it ahead of time.

“Someone in your neighborhood will surely ask about firearms.” (Surely!) Collaboration reduces fear and stress, the Sterlings advise, before going on to list the “minimum” items for a safety kit: duct tape, work gloves and a cellphone, among them. Also “hatchet/ax,” “deterrents (Mace, pepper spray, whistle, etc.),” and, oh yeah, “a folding shovel.” In your car you’ll want an air horn, a deck of cards (there’s only so much fun you can have eating a year’s worth of canned goods) and a Taser.

Who would have thought that swine flu might be just the comeback opportunity Rudy Giuliani has been waiting for?

Actually, it’s the star of Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, New York City’s health commissioner, that has the most potential to rise. Until now, Dr. Frieden has been known mostly as the data-collecting head of the city’s vice squad, the vices being smoking, trans fats and sodium, all of which Dr. Frieden has attacked through either legislation or persuasion (some food industry types would say bullying).

Critics say that he’s been overly aggressive in trying to dictate behavior, and that his approach to the diabetes crisis invades patients’ privacy. Fans say he’s merely passionate and gets results. (They also like that he has kept a bowl full of condoms in his reception area.)

At a news conference this weekend to address the outbreak of influenza at St. Francis, potentially the same swine flu that has killed more than 80 people in Mexico, Dr. Frieden appeared the kind of figurehead people crave in a crisis.

Calm, confidence-inspiring and transmitting compassion even for those who were overtaxing Queens hospitals with mild flu symptoms, he exhibited evident concern about the situation — but a mild strain of concern, suggesting the current situation was nothing New York’s hospitals and leaders couldn’t handle. Instead of spending all that energy learning Spanish, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg might think about spending some time studying Dr. Frieden’s bedside manner (as for Spanish, Dr. Frieden is fluent).

Dr. Frieden has been a teacher, an epidemiologist and, according to his official Web site, a community organizer, that newly golden political credential. Mayor Bloomberg, a titan of finance, came to power when the city was rolling in money. Dr. Frieden, who toiled in India for five years combating tuberculosis, might be the kind of leader who stands out in a new New York, a New York that looks beyond money as its core value (if only because it no longer has any).

The prospect of a flu pandemic could make anyone nostalgic for the good old days when our biggest worries were rising gas prices and China’s seemingly unstoppable growth. Actually, a book like “Preparing for Pandemic Avian Flu” could make anyone nostalgic for the good old days when our biggest worries were a global financial meltdown, high unemployment and entire neighborhoods inhabited by squatters.

For those inclined to big-picture angst, the weather hasn’t helped. By Sunday, it was hot enough to raise inevitable questions of global warming. Would rising sea levels and widespread flooding soon enough make us all nostalgic for the good old days when all we had to worry about was swine flu?

You know what I really miss? Y2K.

[meowmeowmeow 1]

yet another thing to worry about...reminds me of the bird flu scare back in 2003 (?) whatever...i always carry sanitizer anyways, so it's all good.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Keep safe everyone!

Also, I'm predicting the next flu disease is called the cow flu!

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Epicenter: My local Fuddrucker's!

[Nagishkaw 510]

Stay away from people. Load up on bleach.

[Bobby+Umit 161]

Stay away from people. Load up on bleach.

Bleach?