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What FluTrackers are Personally Doing About a Future Pandemic Influenza

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  • #31
    Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

    If you dont like a certain thread, well .....
    Nika

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    • #32
      Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

      This year I decided to get the flu shot as a prep against H7N9 and novel coronavirus. I know these strains/diseases are not covered in the flu shot. I did not get the flu shot last year. This year I selected a no preservative, single vial delivery.

      My reasoning:

      1) I have never had an adverse reaction to any vaccine.
      2) I am over 50 years old.
      3) I have a chronic disease.

      As both H7N9 and novel coronavirus seem to be more serious and fatal in people with my health profile, I decided the 50-70% ish protection against seasonal flu offered by the vaccine was a reasonable methodology.

      I consider the flu vaccine as only 1 of several avoidance tactics. I do not smoke. I rarely drink alcohol. I wash my hands frequently. I carry hand sanitizer with me. I never share cups or utensils. I frequently wipe down handles, door knobs, etc. in my house. I try to maintain a personal space when in public. These actions are a life style for me.

      What I need to work on is exercise and I refuse to give up chocolate or caffeine! lol

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      • #33
        Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

        While not specific to the H7N9 or MERS threats, I got the flu vaccine this year as well.


        Like a seatbelt, it doesn't guarantee a good outcome, but it does improve the odds. And at my age, I can use all the help I can get!
        All medical discussions are for educational purposes. I am not a doctor, just a retired paramedic. Nothing I post should be construed as specific medical advice. If you have a medical problem, see your physician.

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        • #34
          Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

          I want to stress that Mike and I do not think that the flu vaccine is some kind of "magic" medicine. It may, or may not, protect you against the flu. We have made these personal decisions based on our individual medical profiles as we see them at this time. Next year I might not get the flu vaccine - like last year.

          Also, I am looking at my supplies of vitamin D, turmeric, and garlic. I am always looking for natural methods to improve my chances to stay healthy. When someone in my household gets sick, all of us increase our garlic intake and we gargle more frequently with mouthwash.

          I am not depending on anti-virals - mostly because they have to be taken within the first few days of illness onset to be effective. The timing of this can be tricky.

          So my strategy is to try to employ as many methods of flu avoidance as possible in the hope that this combination effort will succeed.




          NOTHING WRITTEN IN THIS POST IS MEDICAL ADVICE. IT IS JUST WHAT I DO.

          IF YOU ARE SICK - GET OFF THE COMPUTER AND SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION.

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          • #35
            Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

            I just sent this email to 2 relatives. As I said before I will publicly disclose my flu related actions. I do not receive any money or any kind of compensation from any corporations, non-profits, governments, etc.. My actions are based solely on my judgments - rightly or wrongly.


            >Sent: Dec 20, 2013 10:18 AM
            >redacted
            >Subject: CDC Flu Info 2013-2014 Season
            >
            >Hi redacted!
            >
            >The flu vaccine is not a guarantee of protection against the flu. It is only part of an illness prevention program including frequent hand washing, etc.
            >
            >H1N1 2009 hits young adults disproportionately high, i.e. younger than 65, than other flu strains. It can cause an immune reaction in non-elderly that is basically an overkill response. This response can damage lungs and organs leading to death.
            >
            >
            >From last week's FluView report prepared by the US CDC:
            >
            >snip
            >
            >Antigenic Characterization*
            >CDC has antigenically characterized 221 influenza viruses [184 2009 H1N1 viruses, 31 influenza A (H3N2) viruses, and 6 influenza B viruses] collected by U.S. laboratories since October 1, 2013 by hemagglutination inhibition (HI).
            >
            >2009 H1N1 [184]:
            >
            >All 184 2009 H1N1 viruses tested were characterized as A/California/7/2009-like, the influenza A (H1N1) component of the 2013-2014 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine.
            >Influenza A (H3N2) [31]:
            >
            >All 31 influenza A (H3N2) viruses tested have been characterized as A/Texas/50/2012-like, the influenza A (H3N2) component of the 2013-2014 Northern Hemisphere influenza vaccine.
            >Influenza B [6]: Two (33&#37 of the six influenza B viruses tested belong to B/Yamagata/16/88-lineage and the remaining four (67%) influenza B viruses tested belong to B/Victoria/02/87 lineage.
            >
            >Yamagata Lineage [2]: Two influenza B/Yamagata-lineage viruses were characterized as B/ Massachusetts/2/1012-like, which is included as an influenza B component of the 2013-2014 Northern Hemisphere trivalent and quadrivalent influenza vaccines.
            >Victoria Lineage [4]: Four influenza B/Victoria-lineage viruses were characterized as B/Brisbane/60/2008-like, which is included as an influenza B component of the 2013-2014 Northern Hemisphere quadrivalent influenza vaccine.
            >
            >
            >http://www.cdc.gov/flu/weekly/
            >
            >
            >The CDC flu site:
            >
            >http://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm
            >
            >
            >
            >
            >Also please see:
            >
            >
            >Dade City mom, 27, dies of complications from swine flu - November 19, 2013
            >http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/...ne-flu/2157847

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            • #36
              Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

              I've not precisely understood the reason of your clarification.

              We cannot invite people to vaccinate because we are not medical professional. We can instead present a series of facts, perspective, news and research about vaccination and prevalence of fatal outcomes in Young people with H1pdm09 to guide an informed decision by the Readers after they consulted their respective health providers.

              A lot of scientific literature is influenced by Pharma Cos. but recently an increasing number of publishers feel the need to distance themselves from these companies in order to maintain a little of Independence and credibility.

              It is not entirely clear the reason behind the upsurge in fatal cases in Southern US States, and if these outcomes are influenced by other factors, ie bacterial superinfection or changes in H1pdm09 epidemiology or genetic constellation.

              After a moderately severe H3-driven season, it is understandable that herd immunity is waned against the H1, but we have little to support a scenario in favor to another at this joint.

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              • #37
                Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

                I agree with you.

                I have made a commitment to publicly disclose what I am doing in my personal life regarding disease.

                I do not offer any medical advice. I am neither pro or anti vaccine. Last year I did not get the flu shot. Some years I do. Some years I do not.

                People are free to disagree with my opinions and actions. I hope they read the entire site and form their own opinions.

                Comment


                • #38
                  Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

                  Same sort of story here. Did not get one last year, but I am probably going to this year. I was not going to, but there seems to be some sudden increases that are making me wonder. I might give it another few days to decide but I am a bit surprised at H1N1 causing problems in Texas this last few days and that makes it more likely I will get it.

                  As for advice, I tell people why I have mine, but never advise them.

                  Comment


                  • #39
                    Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

                    I did get a flu shot, both this year and every year. I have asthma so inevitably if I get the flu I get pneumonia. I also depend on medicines I do not get from my doctor. Turmeric (curcumin), vitamin D and garlic are also on my list of must haves daily, as well as instant availability of three other herbs. Those are tinctures of elderberries and mullein and dried cordecepts, a mushroom well known for boosting your immune system. The mullein is flu specific and so too are the elderberries but they also boost your immune system. If I know I have been exposed to some 'bug' I will add those to my daily routine. Otherwise, I wait until I start to feel the least bit sick then I add them at slightly higher doses then I would as a preventative.
                    Please do not ask me for medical advice, I am not a medical doctor.

                    Avatar is a painting by Alan Pollack, titled, "Plague". I'm sure it was an accident that the plague girl happened to look almost like my twin.
                    Thank you,
                    Shannon Bennett

                    Comment


                    • #40
                      Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

                      Wow...a H5N1 death in North America...

                      My initial reaction was that I expected a traveler from an H5N1 endemic country to bring this disease to the Americas years ago. So I am not surprised.

                      I am doing nothing different. Today I bought a ready cooked chicken from my local grocery store to make salads and sandwiches. I picked up some turmeric and garlic because I have none and my store has a coupon this week for $5 off if you buy 2 bottles of vitamins/herbs. I was planning on buying these anyway.

                      I am leaving Florida to travel to Canada this Spring as is my custom for many years now. I am not sure if I am driving or flying yet but I am not reluctant to do either of these.

                      My next reaction was irritation at China. I am concerned that apparently China is exporting both H5N1 and H7N9 human cases. The world is lucky that both of these high cfr flu strains are not more transmissible. I would like to tell them to "get their act together" before more people die.

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                      • #41
                        Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

                        Late winter/ early spring seems to be a good time for us to go through our stores and make sure we use up all those things that are nearing expiration. We had some nasty medical bills this year so having a stocked pantry was a blessing. But, that did mean that many stores are gone. Since the H7 situation appears volatile I think I will do a little re-stocking now, and be ready to hit the markets if things look like they are heading south fast. I will wait on the vegetables until after canning season since I prefer those to be 'canned' in glass jars.

                        This is also a good time to figure out what we ran out of and what we have way too much of in the pantry. Anyone need some peach or raspberry jam? jk I did make way too much of both but, since we had a bumper crop I couldn't let it go to waste. We ate all the dried peaches in about 6 weeks so if we get another big year I will dry most of them. On the not so happy side of the equation, we lost about 6/7 pounds of pasta. Virtually all of it tasted rancid. I kept it in the kitchen rather than in the cooler pantry and the quality deteriorated fast.
                        Please do not ask me for medical advice, I am not a medical doctor.

                        Avatar is a painting by Alan Pollack, titled, "Plague". I'm sure it was an accident that the plague girl happened to look almost like my twin.
                        Thank you,
                        Shannon Bennett

                        Comment


                        • #42
                          Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

                          Originally posted by Shannon View Post
                          I did get a flu shot, both this year and every year. I have asthma so inevitably if I get the flu I get pneumonia. I also depend on medicines I do not get from my doctor. Turmeric (curcumin), vitamin D and garlic are also on my list of must haves daily, as well as instant availability of three other herbs. Those are tinctures of elderberries and mullein and dried cordecepts, a mushroom well known for boosting your immune system. The mullein is flu specific and so too are the elderberries but they also boost your immune system. If I know I have been exposed to some 'bug' I will add those to my daily routine. Otherwise, I wait until I start to feel the least bit sick then I add them at slightly higher doses then I would as a preventative.
                          You reminded me that this year when I had a very hard time with some sort of respiratory tract illness I didn't have elderberry extract around as I did in 2009 . I was thinking a mushroom extract along with some other immune boosters I use would be 'good enough' since it helped us get over the after effects of something we had in 2009, but I wonder if there is a synergy between the two? This year I did have a nasty environmental exposure to wood smoke, though, (and maybe some garbage burning on top of that), prior to and during the illness that might not have been as severe as in 2009, so it's hard to say. Also the pathogens involved might have been different: it did seem like the flu in 2009 and a cold virus this time, but I don't know for sure.
                          _____________________________________________

                          Ask Congress to Investigate COVID Origins and Government Response to Pandemic.

                          i love myself. the quietest. simplest. most powerful. revolution ever. ---- nayyirah waheed

                          "...there’s an obvious contest that’s happening between different sectors of the colonial ruling class in this country. And they would, if they could, lump us into their beef, their struggle." ---- Omali Yeshitela, African People’s Socialist Party

                          (My posts are not intended as advice or professional assessments of any kind.)
                          Never forget Excalibur.

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                          • #43
                            Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

                            Emily, I never have read of a synergy between the two but so little testing is done on these kinds of alternatives so who would know? Interestingly enough, my son found the same to be true when he was suffering from a severe bronchial infection that just wouldn't clear up. Two days on elderberry and cordecepts and he went from unable to work to almost well. The third day he said he felt fine.



                            I was looking at some food preservation sites and came across two ways to freeze dry food at home. WOW! Freeze dried foods are expensive to buy if done by someone else. So, I am going to try these processes at home and let you know my results. I am also going to "can" some bacon. A lot of people who are prepping for any disaster rely on beans as a staple. A nice bit of bacon while they are cooking really does add to the flavor.
                            Please do not ask me for medical advice, I am not a medical doctor.

                            Avatar is a painting by Alan Pollack, titled, "Plague". I'm sure it was an accident that the plague girl happened to look almost like my twin.
                            Thank you,
                            Shannon Bennett

                            Comment


                            • #44
                              Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

                              A post has been removed from this thread.

                              I remind people that we do not allow participants to advertise on FluTrackers. Our terms of use specifically forbid this action:

                              snip

                              "In addition to any other terms or conditions of use of any bulletin board services, chat areas, news groups, forums, communities and/or other message or communication facilities, you agree that when using one, you will not:

                              1. Publish, post, upload, distribute or disseminate any inappropriate, profane, derogatory, defamatory, infringing, improper, obscene, indecent or unlawful topic, name, material or information.

                              2. Upload files that contain software or other material protected by intellectual property laws or by rights of privacy of publicity unless you own or control such rights or have received all necessary consents.

                              3. Upload files that contain viruses, corrupted files, or any other similar software or programs that may damage the operation of another's computer.

                              4. Advertise any goods or services for any commercial purpose without explicit permission from FluTrackers.com Inc.

                              5. Offer or promote any goods or services for sale, directly or indirectly, for any purpose, without explicit permission from FluTrackers.com Inc.
                              ....."



                              Thank you.

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                              • #45
                                Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

                                Some of us are talking about the increase of H7N9 cases in China here.

                                Today I called the pharmacy to re-order my 90 days supply of my maintenance drug. I am trying to stay current with this.

                                Tomorrow I am going to see how many hand santitizer bottles I have. I like to keep one in my purse and one in my car glove box. I prefer the hand wipes but I am out of those.

                                I do not see H7N9 as a spreading world wide pandemic right now, but I do not think the Chinese government has any credibility - so I do not expect that they will be truthful if H7N9 begins to spread widely human-to-human. The most obvious example of their ineptness/outright lying is the poor woman who became sick this month with H5N1 in Beijing and then returned to Canada to die there. The Chinese government says they have no H5N1 in Beijing.

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