A Brief Public Safety Post
The outbreak of swine flu in Mexico and subsequent public and political reaction in the United States and The European Union just goes to show how misinforming our press media can become.
Yes swine flu is a point of concern. However the risk group would the extremely old and extremely young and most people born after 1962.
The Swine Flu Pandemic of 1918-1919 left residual immunity to the disease in the survivors. That immunity was passed to the next generation and slightly downgraded immunity to their grandchilden. While that will not prevent those people from coming down with swine flu; it will in person with immunity and of good health, lessen the severity of the disease.
There is an excellent book on the 1918 pandemic, Gina Kolata's "Flu: The Story of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search for the Virus That Caused It by." Everyone having flu paranoia should read it.
Facts:
- Not traveling will not prevent flu infection. Yes, staying out of highly infected countries is smart; but don't assume the flu is not in your own backyard already. Our age of internal travel assures flu is already on the 7 continents.
- Hand sanitizers are ineffective against influenza and other viruses, their effective claim is based on reduction of gram positive bacteria. Wash you hands, bath regularly, clean you household and use Lysol or another strong antiseptic on commonly handled household items, like keys, phones, etc.
- Flu is a warm weather disease. We see more of it in the winter, because we are closed up inside with no circulating air. Open some windows, air out the house and get fresh air indoors. Do not hide in the air conditioning and think will escape infection. It will increase it.
Take the disease seriously even if you are a baby boomer. Above all don't let the media scare you.
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