[LancYorkYankee]

Thought I'd add this recent article for anyone interested!

Brian

Bird Flu News
Recent deaths from bird flu in Indonesia and the discovery of infected chickens in Japan last week have placed the bird flu scare back on the radar screen. While the World Health Organization says an increase in cases during the winter months is consistent with the pattern of the past three years, the continued spread of infected birds throughout Asia makes clear that the threat of a pandemic has not gone away. For the latest news about the bird flu threat, I consulted two renowned experts on infectious disease -- Georges C. Benjamin, MD, executive director of the American Public Health Association in Washington, DC, and William Schaffner, MD, chairman of the department of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee.
HOW WORRIED SHOULD WE BE?
Dr. Schaffner told me that scientists have conducted extensive sampling of North American birds in recent months, and so far the results are very good. While the two swans in Michigan did test positive, he assured me that it is different from the bird flu strain in Asia and is not dangerous to humans.
Still, according to Dr. Benjamin, bird flu continues to be a significant threat to birds worldwide. In his opinion, it is possible and likely that outbreaks will occur in the North American continent in the next 12 months or so. Assuming the strain stays the same as we are seeing in Asia, this would be primarily an infection in birds that can spread to people who are in close contact with the birds. To date, there have been cases of rare, but unsustained, human to human transmission. The likelihood of a pandemic is still unclear but of great concern, observes Dr. Benjamin, because the virus mutates frequently and may change to a form more easily transmitted from person to person and become more virulent. So we are not out of harm's way.
WHAT YOU CAN DO AT HOME

While the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other organizations are hard at work on developing an effective bird flu vaccine and stockpiling flu medicines, there are also steps that we as individuals can take to boost our individual immunity and prepare for a possible crisis. Our experts recommend...

• Stay on top of any medical conditions. If you have a chronic medical condition, such as diabetes or high blood pressure, work with your physician to get it under control, says Dr. Schaffner. It's also important to keep your weight appropriate to your height, since overweight people are more apt to develop flu complications such as pneumonia. And if you smoke, now's the time to quit. Smoking makes you more vulnerable to disease and would make it more difficult to fight it off.

• Devise a family plan. Keep the phone numbers and e-mail addresses of important contacts -- family members, friends, medical professionals -- close at hand, and think about who will take care of the kids or the grandparents if you get sick, advises Dr. Schaffner. He also recommends that people stockpile emergency rations, building up at least a two-week supply of nonperishable foods and water, although some experts recommend a two- to three-month supply. Should a pandemic strike, the safest thing to do will be to stay home and out of contact with others. It also will mean that stores may run out of stocked food items if others are staying home or getting sick. So, you'll need to be prepared. Other items you may want to have on hand include alcohol wipes, surgical masks, first aid supplies and prescription and nonprescription medications. Dr. Benjamin notes that information on how to prepare an emergency plan and supply kit are available from a variety of sources including the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org)... Homeland Security (ready.gov)... the Department of Health and Human Services (pandemicflu.gov/plan)... and likely your state or local health department.

• Never directly handle dead or dying birds. Contact your state's health department or other appropriate public agency if you come across a group or dead animals or birds, advises Dr. Benjamin.

• Wash your hands. We should all get into the habit of doing this every time we come home and after being in physical contact with others, especially around those who are sneezing and coughing, stresses Dr. Schaffner. This is the single best way to prevent the spread of disease-causing microbes of all kinds.

PRECAUTIONS TO TAKE WHEN YOU TRAVEL
Eating properly cooked and handled poultry in Southeast Asia should not put you at risk, says Dr. Schaffner. Trouble arises when you travel to rural areas and places that are exposed at close quarters to infected birds. Stay away from raw foods, and foods and animals in open air markets in affected countries, advises Dr. Benjamin. Visit www.who.int for a current list of affected countries. He notes that health alerts by public health authorities are good to follow, but good judgment and a healthy dose of caution are best. Hand washing, covering up your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze are always appropriate. To check on health and safety tips when traveling abroad, visit the Web site of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov.