Birdflu Mailing List: Flu-Busters? Habits to begin developing now?

[William Weir (weirwilliam]

Hi, Flu-Busters !!!  (Can you come up with a better nickname for us?)

As I see it, I (and perhaps all of us) would do well to begin developing some 
habits now to reduce the toll of seasonal influenza.

These habits will, I believe, be even more important to have become habitual by 
the time we need to be intensively working to reduce the toll of pandemic flu:

1> Getting the seasonal flu shot, even if you are not in a higher risk group. 

2> Hand cleansing, including on arrival home, on coming in from yard work, on 
preparing for meals, on preparing for bed, after contact with anything soiled 
(virus in feces), etc.   Using alcohol-based hand cleanser or using water and 
soap (not anti-bacterial).  To avoid feeling rushed, turning off water while 
lathering front and back plus wrists for 20 seconds or more.

3> Avoiding direct finger or hand contact with elevator buttons, others' door 
handles, others' telephones, etc.  
Using disposable paper, tissue or a sleeve -- or, if unavailable for elevator 
buttons, a knuckle.

4> Using disposable facial tissue to clean nostrils, regarding these as our 
first line of defense 
from the airborne virus riding on droplets others have exhaled.

5> Greeting others with a smile and a nod of the head or wave of the hand, 
rather than a virus-sharing handshake.

6> Cleaning up any droppings from migratory birds around our home or workplace, 
using a disposable moistened towel, followed by water and perhaps soap or an 
alcohol cleanser.

7> Covering our coughs and sneezes with disposable tissue; otherwise, with 
inside of an elbow firmly 
against mouth and nose, in order to avoid sending out virus-laden droplets for 
others to breathe in.

8> Washing clothes, separating out anything soiled for washing only after a 
soak in a virus-killing cleanser.

9> If living with anyone sick with influenza or exposed (unprotected) to the 
virus in the previous 72 hours, avoiding unprotected contact, using separate 
bathrooms and sanitizing faucet handles, door knobs, etc. frequently.

10> Protecting yourself from any such person's exhaled air (especially when 
coughing or sneezing) by wearing at least an N-95 respirator (painter's face 
mask) and, if available, eye protection, disposable sterile gloves, shoe 
covers, and any other medical isolation gear.  

11> Disposing of or sanitizing isolation gear after each use.  Using heat (such 
as in a microwave oven) to kill the virus while not contaminating the oven.

12> After taking a flight or other public transportation anywhere, especially 
from anywhere with a known flu outbreak, maintaining social distance from loved 
ones and others for 72 hours when you may be a carrier showing no symptoms yet 
-- or better yet, if possible, self-quarantining, staying away from others, 
perhaps working from home.

13> If you may be carrying the virus, even before showing significant symptoms, 
consulting a physician about the appropriate use of prescribed anti-viral 
medicine such as Tamiflu (to help prevent a virus, having multiplied, from 
breaking out of a cell and breaking into others to multiply much more) and also 
the appropriate use of anti-inflammatory medicine such as Advil or Tylenol (to 
prevent a deadly cytokine storm, as can happen with a strong immune system).

14> If you are (or may be) carrying the virus, using a surgical mask, 
handkerchief or whatever is available to cover your nose and mouth, catching 
droplets while allowing you to breathe easily enough, even when not coughing or 
sneezing.

15> In case anyone carrying the virus is dying, having a mortician ready to 
help avoid its transmission -- and if none is available, having a body bag, 
tarp or other such container ready, using a strong sanitizer on skin where any 
loved one needs to kiss goodbye.

Please as you review this draft of suggestions, consider what is missing, what 
could well be corrected, etc. and let me know.

I have been recruited onto the Public Information Campaign Advisory Committee, 
concerned with pandemic flu and other hazards, jointly formed by the Mn Dept of 
Health & Mn Dept of Public Safety (Homeland Security Emergency Preparedness 
Section), which had its first meeting 10/3/06 and plans to meet monthly.   I'd 
welcome your suggestions to consider taking to the committee.

Here's to your continued health and happiness,
Bill Weir