Bird Flu Supplement 4 – What Should Be Done If There is a Breakout of Bird Flu?
This Bird Flu supplement is designed to inform readers what can be done in the short term if an outbreak of Avian Influenza becomes a concern in this country.
Avian Influenza, or Bird Flu, is a strain of the influenza type A virus found in birds. There is currently a large amount of concern over this disease and it’s most recent strain H5N1, which has been shown to be highly deadly if contracted by humans.
This strain, which was previously thought to be localized to south east Asia, has shown up in over 14 countries, and while most infections are from direct contact with diseased birds, it has recently been shown to jump from human to human in extreme cases. The main concern of health authorities at this stage is if the virus develops the ability to easily transmit itself from human to human (like the common flu viruses we are used to) it could mean a global pandemic with millions of lives at risk.
The best course of action to be taken in the event of an outbreak is to keep informed and healthy as possible during the outbreak, by following common sense and some other simple and practical guidelines.
Our government and many others around the world have stockpiled drugs and treatments and have contingency plans for distribution of these in place. You will have more chance of survival by following these guidelines and waiting for the drugs to be distributed, than you will storming hospitals and doctors surgeries in a panic demanding drugs and treatment. History has shown this will happen, so be informed and don’t be part of the mania.
1. Avoid non-essential travel and large crowds, especially enclosed spaces with little ventilation. There has been some argument over the effectiveness of masks against Bird Flu, but if you absolutely have to be around large groups it couldn’t hurt.
2. Maintain vigilant hygiene, and enforce it on others in your home. Wash hands frequently. Avoid touching your face with hands that haven’t been washed. Clean and disinfect hard surfaces, door handles, kitchens and other high contact areas frequently.
3. Cover nose and mouth when sneezing and coughing.
4. At any sign of illness or infection, take common medicines you should have around the house for treating common influenza. These may include ibuprofen, paracetamol or aspirin. It won’t cure the infected, but could reduce severity of symptoms and buy the infected some more time before proper treatment is distributed.
By following the simple tips and guidelines laid out in this Bird Flu supplement, you should have more chance at avoiding illness and infection, and the means to deal with infection if it should happen to you or your family. Much of it seems like common sense, but in a pandemic situation, there is nothing more uncommon than common sense.