Posted on 10/10/2005 9:32:26 PM PDT by Brian_Baldwin
If you search +N95 +mask +flu from any of the popular internet search engines, you will find many providers of N95 masks. You can order such masks online. The demand for such masks is increasing, and of course you can fully expect supplies to be effected by such demand if/when the Avian influenza comes to the United States.
The CDC has some good information at: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/professional/infect-control.htm and they also recomment to use a fit-tested respirator, at least as protective as a National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)-approved N-95 filtering facepiece (i.e., disposable) respirator if entering a room where infection is active.
OSHA provides further information regarding which masks to use, and how to properly use them. This site goes into the aspects of industrial masks and respirators outside of the issue regarding Avian flu, but provides insight to use of masks and fitting: http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/etools/respiratory/
Other measures you can do now if you are concerned is to support politicians and legislation that tighten our out of control borders, especially the invasion of disease ridden illegal aliens from Mexico. You may also consider purchasing a firearm for protection of your family, during the Medieval ages when the plague hit there were cases of total panic and victims of such panic due to lack of armed self protection. The unlawful also often seek to advantage the collapse of order and policing when pandemic outbreaks occur, which often extends much further than looting and robbery of businesses.
Vaccines may not be effective because the influenza mutates even within short periods between human transmissions, and so an effective vaccine in one case may soon become ineffective for a later mutation. If the government stockpiles a particular vaccine for Avian influenza, it will likely be ineffective if/when an outbreak actually occurs. The H5N1 virus began in April 2005, but there are subtypes such as H9N2, and other bird flu virus subtypes any of which can mutate and become deadly. You cannot expect a vaccine purchased by the government in 2005 to be effective in 2006 against an Avian flu pandemic in California, Arizona, New Mexico or elsewhere. It is a constant "guessing game" regardin any "flu shot", science simply guessing what will be the cocktail to a specific flu or range of influenza. This is because a virus can change, even a specific flu because of subtypes, such that the "flu shot" is ineffective. If you think there have not been any outbreaks of Avian flu in North America with transmission to humans, you better check out the CDC link indicated because you would be wrong, there have been cases of human transmission of H7N3 in Canada, H7N2 in New York and cases of outbreaks within poultry in Texas, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey:
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/outbreaks/us.htm
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/gen-info/avian-flu-humans.htm
We do not want to go the route of Y2K and dried food scams. But if a pandemic breaks out, you probably will not want to make regular visits to your local Safeway or any public market. In general practice, a safety supply of some food, canned tuna fish for example (please, no jokes about mercury poisoning) or other canned food dated with re-supply schedule for expiration, supply of water, etc., is always a good idea in regards to any disaster, and many who would be effected by the pandemic live in earthquake or hurricane areas in which preparation is recommended in general.
Keep basic medical supplies, including eye solutions, prescription, contact lens supplies, aspirin and fever reducers and such. Watch for expiration dates, and re-supply using an expiration schedule. All of this is obvious, but what may not have been obvious is the N95 mask. Again, demand at the time of a pandemic may outstrip supply, so you may consider acquiring a supply beforehand. This is not meant to be predictive of pandemic, nor doom and gloom. Simply a thought to consider among friends.
bump
As for me, I'm just gonna sneak into my brother-in-law's backyard and murder his wife's pet chickens.
Exactly, FRiend.
Some of us have owned these, and NBC masks, since before 9-11.
I am not in a panic..lol. I am a prudent conservative. But this is not like any FLU! Haven't you been listening to the actual reports? Let me give you a crash course. Apparently, just recently, some scientists have been able to duplicate the flu that killed over a million people worldwide in the early 1900's(over 500,000 in this country alone died). They have determined that it was a type of AVIAN flu, which mutated and spread person to person. That's just it..it is not like "ANY OTHER FLU" and u lay 'low' until it is over..(rolling eyes). In the 1900's when it spread throughout this countrry, , it was said that perfectly healthy men would kiss their wifes goodbye in the morning while going off to work,only to come home in a coffin. This is life..get use to protecting it.
You are correct, however, a litle bit of preparation is not a bad idea. You won't get sick from the poultry you buy at the local supermarket, but if it hits you won't be getting poultry you can trust in the supermarket because the it will all have been destroyed prior to getting to the processing plant, let alone the supermarket.
Your post reminded me of a joke,(I know this is "off topic", but I hope freepers don't mind my attempt at a little humor to maybe "lighten the mood"....
Two pirates are drinking grog at the bar of their favorite tavern. Their conversation turns to the scars and wounds each has received while performing their "pirate duties".
The first pirate says: "I see ya have a peg leg. How'd ya lose yer leg ?"
The second pirate replies: "Shark....and I see you have a hook for a right hand. How'd ya lose that ?"
The first pirate replies: "Shark."
The two of them pause the conversation to enjoy some of their drink, and then the second pirate inquires :
"I see along with your hook, that yer wearin' an eye patch on yer right eye. How'd ya lose that?"
The first pirate replies: "Seagull."
"SEAGULL ??" the second pirate says in total surprise,"Ya know, that's not a very MANLY way to lose your eye.... to a seagull !!"
The second pirate quickly responds: "Let me tell you how it happened. It was a beautiful morning with nary a cloud in the sky, and the ocean was as calm as could be. The captain had me swabing the deck, and I had stopped to watch the many seagulls flying overhead that were messing up my deck, when one of them pooped, and it got me right in my right eye."
The first pirate says:" I still don't understand how seagull poop made ya lose yer eye"
The second pirate replies: " It happened to me before with no problem, but when it happened this time, it was like only the second day with my new hook"........
.....( I thought it was a good joke, and I hope you don't mind me sharing it.....)
I don't think anyone knows.
The poultry industry is one of THE major industries in this area, they take this stuff VERY seriously. Vehciles are actually wshed/disinfected entering and leaving the processing plant. At the hatcheries the precautions are even worse..they take this stuff that seriously.
Oh, and plenty of chicken soup.
Not only have they shown the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic was an Avian Flu - they have also proven that both the ones in 1957 and 1968 were also a strain of Avian Influenza.
From what I have read and other learnings, it is practically cyclical - sort of like bad hurricane seasons.
Something else that is cyclical - the need for sleep, and that cycle has just hit me. I will pick up where I left off sometime later in the morning :)
And I don't eat birds at all! Safe.
I've heard of people using geese for security...like a dog.
wouldn't surprise me.
Ok...why is this flu any different? (ROLLING EYES, to quote you). I am an RN for 25 years now...what's new about this flu vs any other kind of flu we've had for the past decades? Nothing. All flu can cause people to be very sick or even die..so WHY IS BIRD FLU ANY DIFFERENT? You are assuming "everyone who gets it will die because that's what happened in 1918". Bad assumption, IMO. They didn't have the improved medical care back then that we have now. I'm just saying that...with common sense, people need to take precautions, LAYING LOW means don't go out in public if you have it, treat the symptoms and seek emergency medical care if they get worse. People certainly don't want to work with this flu or expose others to it...JUST LIKE ANY OTHER FLU.
I simply refuse to panic or instill panic by going nutso with masks and warnings and believing the overhyped press on it. The media freaked out last year over the flu and it turned out to be a very mild season.
Right...but it is spread from contact with live chickens. And you are correct..preparation is a good thing..stock up on cough medicine, Tylenol, chicken soup. Have a plan if a family member gets ill. Watch for symptoms but there is no need for the public to be in a mass panic now. The media is sensationalizing it. They did this a few years back with the bird flu that hit in Hong Kong, which killed a handful of people.
Good post, thanks :)
BTTT
Oh darn, all that work for nothing...........
So how goes the war?
The avian flu will turn out to be one of the most over-hyped threats in human history.
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