Oprah Show - Bird Flu Pandemic

[scandi]

Good Morning,

I didn't watch Oprah, but saw a special last night on CNN about the Bird Flu. It was shocking to hear we will have it here, just don't know when it will hit.

What I really took away from the show is that the virus changes or mutates and they are always looking for these changes. When they suddenly have a grouping of flu illnesses is when the virus will have changed to be pandemic and not just from having contact with infected birds or their excrement as it is now.

That is scary, as the main antibiotic {?} the US is stockpiling now might not be effective on the strain that makes it pandemic. And they make this serum in eggs which is the only way to do it, and eggs will be in short supply if chickens aren't around to make them. And our stockpile will only take care of something like 1% of the population in America - their goal to be only 25% of the population as it is I think in Europe.

Pretty darn scary. Heart of Texas, the idea of just money at that point being handled is freightning isn't it. Disposable gloves should certainly be on the list!

Scandi

 

[eve]

I wish all this energy (used in stockpiling, warning, etc.) could be channeled into making sure everyone has a supply of Tamiflu. I wish the drug companies capable of developing a vaccine would work doubletime on it, if possible, at this point.

One problem: I'm not sure they CAN develop a vaccine until the virus actually mutates to the point that it can be passed from human to human. I do not believe this has yet occurred.

Anyway, I'm all for free enterprise but this is one time when the drug companies should work together for the common good, in getting medicines produced that will help in this potential crisis.

Instead of relying on the government, it would be nice to see the pharmaceutical industry take the lead. It would be great PR so smart in the long run and of course, it's just the right thing to do.

Eve

 

[christine2448]

iizzyB, it might be a good idea if you published a recommended "stockpile inventory list" as others might have suggestions as to what else to add, and it would also help us plan too.

I was just thinking of asking Izzy to put up her list for me to see, good idea Buzz.

 

[miimaa]

This sounds a lot like the Y2K hysteria (by brother-in-law went out and bought a generator!!) and mad cow disease. Are people dropping by the hundreds from this bird flu? Nowhere that I have heard on the news.

This is from the Mayo Clinic website (italics added by me for emphasis)...

So far, the cases of human-to-human transmission have been rare and self-contained. But some experts fear that as the virus continues to mutate, it may produce a new, equally deadly strain that spreads easily among people, leading to a worldwide pandemic.​

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/bird-flu/ID00032

I am not going to get too excited about it.

 

[j2mirish]

LOL J2! I know, I saw that list. I need to build a wing on my house just to store it all And I so admire the poster above who says she rotates her supply so she's using the oldest first... but I know I would never do that for more than a week. Storage in my home is already overloaded so I sure don't know where I could set up a year's worth of food and water AND be able to access it well enough to rotate it. Knowing me, even if I did manage to stockpile a year's worth of supplies, and then actually stayed indoors for one year, I would no doubt walk out the front door on day 366 and shake the hands of someone carrying the virus. And then when I think of all of America stockpiling their food, I see the price of every day items skyrocketing due to supply and demand. I hate to sound like a fatalist but I really don't know how we can protect ourselves to the degree we need to.

the list, imo was just out of control! I dont want to sound pesimistic either- but there is only so much we, as individuals can do- even the drug companies, cant make a vacacine until the "bug" itself has chaneged to wahtever it needs to, to be passed people to people.
that is another point-- if I had a years worth of food stockpiled in the house- the family would have to move out!....:doh:

 

[christine2448]

http://www.planforflu.com/survival_grocery_list

Thanks for the link Fran, very helpful

 

[j2mirish]

I was just thinking of asking Izzy to put up her list for me to see, good idea Buzz.

Fran posted a link, on post #11 that has a "list". I'm not too sure about it, but there was other info if you are interested.

 

[miimaa]

Interesting that this Plan for Flu website also SELLS stuff you should have. Hmmm...... they wouldn't have a vested interest in promoting fear of this bird flu, would they?

Reminds me of the commercial that shows someone breaking into a house where a woman and kids are home. The commercial is selling home security systems. Playing upon peoples fears and insecurities.

If I stock up on anything it will be alcohol - and not rubbing alcohol either.

 

[j2mirish]

Interesting that this Plan for Flu website also SELLS stuff you should have. Hmmm...... they wouldn't have a vested interest in promoting fear of this bird flu, would they?

Reminds me of the commercial that shows someone breaking into a house where a woman and kids are home. The commercial is selling home security systems. Playing upon peoples fears and insecurities.

If I stock up on anything it will be alcohol - and not rubbing alcohol either.

ita-- mostly about the alcohol!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[miimaa]

Don't believe everything you read on websites that promote their own products. If you want accurate information regarding bird flu/flu pandemic visit the Center for Disease Control website -- http://www.cdc.gov/ or the Mayo Clinic website.

The current situation is not nearly as dire as "Plan for Flu" and other such sites would lead you to believe.

 

[izzyB]

I was just thinking of asking Izzy to put up her list for me to see, good idea Buzz.

my list is not comprehensive by any means, as i said in an earlier post, i just try to estimate what we would need of a certain item in a year.

here are 4 storage bins i have, but they are incomplete...i am doing what i can afford:

bin # 1 cleaning supplies:
4 Large bttls. soft soap anti-bacterial refills
4 Large bttls. hand sanitizer (liquid)
6 Large canisters Lysol wipes
8 Smll canisaters Lysol wipes
2 large Windex refills
9 Dawn Anti-bacterial dish soap
1 pack sponges

bin#2 health and beauty
10 baby powder
12 toothpaste (his and hers)
12 deoderant (his and hers)
12 dental floss (his and hers)
10 bottles of shampoo (his and hers)
10 bottles of conditioner (his and hers)
6 cans shaving cream
3 boxes of Refresh eye drops (100 count)

bin#3 health and beauty
10 jars chocolate flavored laxative
3 boxes stool softner (100 count)
6 tubes of facial cleanser (her)
1 large bottle liquid facial cleaner (her)
2 large boxes female supplies
2 large bricks of bath soap (multi-packs)
6 boxes band-aids
1 jar Vicks
2 packages dixie bathroom cup
2 bottles X-tra strength tylenol


i hope this gives a few of you ideas about what i am doing. it is not comprehensive by any means, and it is expensive and i am doing this as i can afford it. on a lot of these items i think i will need more.

oh, forgot to mention paper goods. i bought paper plates, napkins and plastic ware to last us 6 months, using only one set per day. this is incase the water is turned off.

also, estimated the amount of TP we use in a week and got 52 weeks worth.

speaking of water, i do not have nearly enough stockpiled. i do not have enough room for this, and paper towels are also a big taker of space!

we are thinking of getting a chemical toilet and also a generator.

 

[christine2448]

If I stock up on anything it will be alcohol - and not rubbing alcohol either.

LOL LOL

 

[Buzz Mills]

I'm not sure whether to prepare for, the arrival of the bird-flu, or the arrival of Al Qaeda.

It's almost as if, every time they want to take our minds off of, how poorly the war, in Iraq, is going, or the corruption in Washington D.C., they publicize, something else, even worse.

 

[izzyB]

i forgot to mention that out in my garage i have 10 boxes of the large lawn and leaf trash bags from target. and they may have about 26 bags/box.

i also bought 4 of the largest boxes of tide detergent, 4 large bottles of woolite and 8 large bottles of chlorine bleach. i have two boxes of dryer sheets. i cut those in half anyway.

we tried to get tamiflu. our insurance will pay for one RX every 180 days. and then we heard that the traditional doses of tamiflu may not be enough.

i read on the drudge report just this week that the avian flu virus or whatever it is lives in bird dropping for weeks! even in cold weather!

 

[izzyB]

I'm not sure whether to prepare for, the arrival of the bird-flu, or the arrival of Al Qaeda.

It's almost as if, every time they want to take our minds off of, how poorly the war, in Iraq, is going, or the corruption in Washington D.C., they publicize, something else, even worse.

at the same time i am doing the bird flu, i am also up-dating our over-night emergency bags. i used to have bare bones in a gym bag: 2 bottles of water, one change of clothes, wash cloth, small bar of soap, candy bar, etc. but after katrina i realize these need to be beefed up a little. i went to target and found large duffel bags with two wheels on the bottom for 50% off. enough room for a small pillow, one of those emergency type blankets that can store body heat, flashlight with batteries, 2 days of clothing (more underwear though), 4 bottles of water (regular size), the small veggie canned goods that you can pop the top off, granola bars and 3 days worth of our meds. when i get around to it i am also going to put in photocopies of important paper....although i have no idea what to consider important.

 

[christine2448]

I liked this article on getting prepared for emergencies (the list was made for people w/disabilities, but I think doing a little at a time, like izzy has been doing, is easier on the pocketbook!):


This Disaster Supplies Calendar is intended to help you prepare for disasters before they happen. Using the calendar, you can assemble a disaster supplies kit in small steps over a five-month period. Check off items you gather each week. Remember to change and replace perishable supplies (such as food and water) every six months.


http://www.state.nj.us/njoem/preparedness_disabarc_appendix_b.html

 

[christine2448]

i am also going to put in photocopies of important paper....although i have no idea what to consider important.

List of insurance policies and contact information
List of bank accounts and contact information
List of debt obligations, due dates, and contact information
Your family's passports
List of doctors and contact information
List of medications, prescription numbers, and contact information of all pharmacies that you use
Copy of durable power of attorney, living wills, and healthcare proxies - Yours and all those of which you are attorney-in-fact or healthcare surrogate
Copy of each of your wills and all those of which you are the executor
Safety deposit box keys
List of investment, retirement, and bank accounts, with all contact information
Your original Social Security card
Birth Certificate
Marriage Certificate
Any other papers that you think would be hard to replace

 

[izzyB]

List of insurance policies and contact information
List of bank accounts and contact information
List of debt obligations, due dates, and contact information
Your family's passports
List of doctors and contact information
List of medications, prescription numbers, and contact information of all pharmacies that you use
Copy of durable power of attorney, living wills, and healthcare proxies - Yours and all those of which you are attorney-in-fact or healthcare surrogate
Copy of each of your wills and all those of which you are the executor
Safety deposit box keys
List of investment, retirement, and bank accounts, with all contact information
Your original Social Security card
Birth Certificate
Marriage Certificate
Any other papers that you think would be hard to replace

THANKS!!! this is a great list. it would take me a week to track these thing down, which shows you how much i need to do this. LOL!

actually, between my husband, me and our safe deposit box, i think i know where it all is, but it is not in a central place for us to get in an emergency.

 

[izzyB]

I liked this article on getting prepared for emergencies (the list was made for people w/disabilities, but I think doing a little at a time, like izzy has been doing, is easier on the pocketbook!):

when i told mr. izzyB i needed an extra $1,000 in the household budget to cover what i had spent on the stockpile his first response was "stop stockpiling immediately!" i pray the bird flu does not come this year because i cannot afford to be prepared the way we would like to be.

something else i have done since 9/11 is save my change. i only do this once a week, usually on sunday night. i empty my change purse. sometimes it is a dollar, and sometimes it is less, but i will have small change if it is ever needed.

some of the survival sites i have looked at say you could also have items to barter, such as liquor. at this point, i am sticking with the change.

 

[Marthatex]

I would like to hire IzzyB to get me organized.

Have you thought of starting a business?