What FluTrackers are Personally Doing About a Future Pandemic Influenza

[sharon sanders]

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.

[Shannon Bennett]

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.

[kondor]

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.

[sharon sanders]

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.

[Giuseppe]

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.

[sharon sanders]

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

[sharon sanders]

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.

[Michael Coston]

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!

[sharon sanders]

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

[Nika]

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

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

[gsgs]

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

zero hits for Tamiflu in this thread ?!

where to get some ? Relenza, Inavir,Arbidol ?

found DrFox.co.uk

add some eye-makeup to my preps ...

[sharon sanders]

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

So what you are saying is that the Taiwan case is triggering you to strengthen your preps?

Im waiting on stronger H2H signals inside China (if we hear about them you know its orders of magnitude greater) or a nontraveler case outside of China.

First thing then is to replenish my PPE supplies and plant more storage crops.

Not the Taiwan case. The CDC said last week that they expect a case from China to arrive in the United States. I am not running out the door to buy preps today. I am looking at what I need to do about flu avoidance i.e. have plenty of hand sanitizer etc..

I am going to prepare for a hurricane which is what we are asked to do each year.

My situation might be a bit different than most people. I live in the Orlando area which had over 55 million visitors in 2011.

[Nika]

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

Ok - I am going to prepare for the spread of H7N9 beyond China's borders.

So what you are saying is that the Taiwan case is triggering you to strengthen your preps?

Im waiting on stronger H2H signals inside China (if we hear about them you know its orders of magnitude greater) or a nontraveler case outside of China.

First thing then is to replenish my PPE supplies and plant more storage crops.

[Shannon Bennett]

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

The weather here refuses to settle down so I cannot predict when our last frost will be. So, this week we will be moving our tomato, pepper, eggplant and myriad other vegetable starts into larger pots. The tiny greenhouse is going to be over-flowing!

I checked out the price of dried beans and was horrified at how much a 25lb. bag cost. I may try growing a row or two this year if I can find the space. That would give me an excuse for growing some new and hopefully exceptional varieties.

Lastly, my husband and I were discussing raising chickens again. We moved a few years ago from a place that allowed chickens to one where they were forbidden. Now, with changes in the local laws we have the opportunity to raise them again. No roosters within the city limits but I didn't want any to begin with. Oh my, the wonderful taste of fresh eggs is something I long to have again. Besides I love watching "the girls" busy going about their bug-chasing, weed-eating and hilarious attempts at flying lives.

[sharon sanders]

Re: What FluTrackers Are Personally Doing About H7N9

Ok - I am going to prepare for the spread of H7N9 beyond China's borders. The qualification of the authors of this paper are excellent. They do not say that H7N9 is being transmitted human-to-human.

Chin Sci Bull. Epidemiological and risk analysis of the H7N9 subtype influenza outbreak in China at its early stage


Last week the CDC said that they expected some H7N9 cases to come to the US via travelers from China.