For all of those planning to hide out during the flu pandemic;

[hedgehog]

I heard on the radio today that the typical pandemic lasts 12-18 months. Even with the best facilities, it would take six months to make up a vaccine once a new virus is identified. It sounds like the best bet is to invest in some good hand soap.

and by the way - guys - could you quit spitting everywhere?

[Raster]

1. handsoap and immune system boosters

[aquart]

2. WHAT immune system boosters???

[HysteryDiagnosis]

23. Do you really want to know?? OK, I'll tell ya.....

http://www.gmushrooms.com/healthref.html

www.glycoexpert.com

http://www.iherb.com/mydefense.html

[Fridays Child]

3. Second on the spitting.

Not only do we not want your microbes, it's f'ing disgusting.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

26. But but but it seems so appropriate when you are prancing around

in a testosterone induced stupor... dudn't it?

[Fridays Child]

29. Testosterone should be taxed.

[chelsea0011]

4. Don't go to school, don't take mass transit, don't breathe or touch

yourself,walk with your head down, and don't vote Republican.

[HysteryDiagnosis]

5. You mean like... .spitting all over the shop floor.... whilst cranked

up on cowboy cocaine??? (Dip) I know it only too well.

[hedgehog]

6. It used to be something steel workers did

after a night inhaling soot and scale. (and I know whereof I speak)Now it seems every suburban male feels a need to offer up a sample from his lungs to the general public on a regular basis!

[TallahasseeGrannie]

14. Yeah and don't walk BEHIND

somebody whose doing all that, either!

[HysteryDiagnosis]

21. Oooooh.... the stories I could tell on this subject..... I'll see your

cute picture and raise you one.....

[TallahasseeGrannie]

22. Whoa!

I'm dizzy! Wonder how long the cat stayed on there.

I am the penguin who gets blindsided by the right wing and falls into the ice hole.

But I get back up!

[HysteryDiagnosis]

25. Gotcha.... never quit Grannie.... never. nt.

[AccessGranted]

7. I panicked and ordered anti-viral drugs

I am paranoid and learned how to make korean kimchi...it a super immune system booster and a natural anti-viral, anti-bacterial and antibiotic. I'm about as ready as I'm gonna get.

[hedgehog]

8. Onions are a natural protection also

I don't know about the face masks in the old photos. They wouldn't stop a virus, but if they stopped droplets, would that be enough? What if they were treated with something? Maybe we should all stock up on lavender. At least we'll all smell nice.

[mike_c]

12. yes-- the point of the masks is to limit aerosol droplets...

...from coughing, sneezing, and exhalation.

[peacebird]

10. kimchi?

wow... a friends wife used to make that, i ate it at their house once and (being a good southern girl) politely told her it was wonderful.

so she made some and sent it in with her husband to give me at work.... aye! it falls under the category of something that MUST be good for you cuz it smells so BAD and it hurts so much to try to eat it.

it must be a regional thing - i know folks who gag over the thought of eating fried okra (all gluey and great!) or grits, and who question the sanity of cooking greenbeans into submission for 6-8 hours with salt pork before eating them.

for me - kimchi and that black pudding over in great briatin - tried both - just can't do it....

[chalky]

16. Kim chi and chitlins--MMM MMM Good!

Our family had a multi-cultural New Year's get together once and both these items were on the menu.

I thought my SIL was going to run screaming down the street.

[AccessGranted]

28. Haha and Eww

What a combination....that is funny!

[TallahasseeGrannie]

15. I had a lot of left over zovarax

or something like that I use for cold sores. Wonder if THAT would help!

[truth2power]

9. Richard H. Carmona. US Surgeon General. Where is he???

Shouldn't he be speaking out on this??

[NNN0LHI]

11. Busy counting up his profits from Tamiflu stock n/t

[truth2power]

18. No doubt!

[bonito]

13. I Going to keep saying this, so get used to it folks

Keep some c.s. handy. buy it , make it, whatever, have it around!

[truth2power]

19. c.s. ?

[bonito]

27. Here's a link

http://www.silvermedicine.org/ been using it for years, it works.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

24. What is CS?

[TallahasseeGrannie]

17. Okay, I'll wear a mask

but I'm going to have one for every mood and switch them out... I'll batik them or color them with markers...big grins...frowns...

You know, I can see a whole cottage industry developing. We can do it on du...feathered masks, sequins and stuff...bark for the green folks..

Okay I did have a couple of beers. So what? So freaking what?

[donco6]

20. Not true.

The total length of the pandemic may be 16 months, but that's how long it takes from human infection (patient zero) to encompassing the world. The Flu of 1918 took that long to move from the US through the rest of the world, but it took only a few weeks to sweep through a region. It also demonstrated interesting mutations along the way - the first cases were mild and people tended to recover, but a few months later a new strain developed that was many times more lethal.

Basically, if you could stay holed up in your house for a few weeks, it's possible to miss the biggest wave. After some time, the influenza virus seems to "spend" itself and it becomes less lethal.

The worst thing people did during the great flu was go to church. They seemed to have the idea that praying in church would keep them safe. All it did was spread the disease faster.

Also, many people did not die from the flu itself, but from lack of care, as everyone was terrified to leave their homes. It's one of the biggest problems to overcome.

[wildeyed]

30. Also, then people didn't really know how the illness spread.

Viruses hadn't been discovered yet. At least now we know what precautions to take.

[donco6]

31. Yes. We were only just beginning to adopt true medicine.

In The Great Influenza, the author talks about the state of American medicine at the beginning of the outbreak. We would have been in much worse shape if it hadn't been for a few men and women who had already formed institutes like Johns Hopkins. They were able to isolate the virus and create the vaccine which eventually eliminated Spanish Flu. Sadly, it was too late to stop the outbreak itself.

And yes, there was much confusion about the flu - many actually identified a baccillus as the cause, rather than a symptom. Fortunately, most treatments for the baccillus actually didn't do any more harm than anything else, so that was OK. The doctors had been able to stop people from bleeding patients for the most part, which was the absolute WORST thing that could happen.

But the hysteria, and the fact that the virus started in army barracks - that's alarming to me. Over here in the States, for all of the current ineptitude, we would be relatively well off. I can't imagine the toll in Asia or Africa.

[cynatnite]

32. I won't talk to anyone unless it's online or on the phone...

Hubby and the kids are going nuts already :argh: