H1N1: Simple Precautions to Prevent H1N1 Flu

[Jute]

I posted this on the Health and Wellness forum, but will post it here, too. IMO, the information is valuable.

Simple Precautions to Prevent H1N1 Flu

Prevent Swine Flu - Good Advice

Dr. Vinay Goyal is an MBBS,DRM,DNB (Intensivist and Thyroid specialist) having clinical experience of over 20 years. He has worked in institutions like Hinduja Hospital , Bombay Hospital , Saifee Hospital , Tata Memorial etc.. Presently, he is heading our Nuclear Medicine Department and Thyroid clinic at Riddhivinayak Cardiac and Critical Centre, Malad (W).

The following message given by him, I feel makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know

The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it's almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.

While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):

1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).

2. "Hands-off-the-face" approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat, bathe or slap).

3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine if you don't trust salt).
*H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don't underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.

4. In your HOME always after every use of your toilet by family or visitors have a can of 'LYSOL" or an equally good disinfectant "ANTI-BACTERIAL" household spray and spray under your seat and lid and on top also - inside the toilet and one dash in the air to kill MOST floating germs after use. Germs DO FLOAT about after use and flushing of your toilet.

5. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose hard once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*

6. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.

7. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.


I received this email from a friend; please share with yours.

[LiveLaughLuv]

Thanks Jute for those tips..

Another one is do not cough or sneeze into your hands, as we've been told to do. Sneeze or cough into the fold of your elbow, this way hands to not hold the germs...

Another from the doctor, no more shaking hands, do the elbow bump...:happy0207:

[texanne]

I was on the phone for an hour this week trying to locate a site to get the immunization. I have two asthmatic grandsons, and a 91 yr. old mother with COPD. It was impossible, I could not find any place in my county that had the shot. The Houston and Galveston area was giving injections today....but supply was limited and the lines were long. To tell you the truth, I have no desire to stand in a long crowded line right now. I was told that our area might get the shots in December. Our government had since last Fall, but evidently getting the immunizations out was not a priority. I guess the reason I feel nervous about the H1N1 virus is the fact that 4 of my grandson have already had the regular flu this year, and one of the asthmatics is sick again now. We have always practiced preventative measures, and Germ-X is a staple here.

[Jute]

I was on the phone for an hour this week trying to locate a site to get the immunization. I have two asthmatic grandsons, and a 91 yr. old mother with COPD. It was impossible, I could not find any place in my county that had the shot. The Houston and Galveston area was giving injections today....but supply was limited and the lines were long. To tell you the truth, I have no desire to stand in a long crowded line right now. I was told that our area might get the shots in December. Our government had since last Fall, but evidently getting the immunizations out was not a priority. I guess the reason I feel nervous about the H1N1 virus is the fact that 4 of my grandson have already had the regular flu this year, and one of the asthmatics is sick again now. We have always practiced preventative measures, and Germ-X is a staple here.

Do you know what a "neti pot" is, texanne? The modern version is sold under names like Sinu-Cleanse and many others. Drs. have finally started to acknowledge that using one of these systems may be more effective than antibiotics for sinus infections; they really help with a cold, too.

As gross as it sounds, you put saline powder in your little pot and add water; then flush the nasal/sinus cavity. With the Sinu-Cleanse, you bend over a sink and pour the solution in one side of your nose and let it just run out the other side; then reverse. It is gross sounding, but not nearly as bad as you might think - and it does a fantastic job of cleaning areas where germs can get trapped.

I'm sure your "boys" wouldn't appreciate doing this, but it could really help them fight off the risk of catching the flu.

[awakening2lite]

For years and years while living in coastal zones I stocked up in advance of hurricane season..


Tomorrow I plan to begin stocking up on supplies in advance of the H1N1. If the flu hits hard we won't have to go out and risk exposure. If there is a declared pandemic, well I hope to be prepared.

Anyone else considering doing the same?

[Febbie]

Do you know what a "neti pot" is, texanne? The modern version is sold under names like Sinu-Cleanse and many others. Drs. have finally started to acknowledge that using one of these systems may be more effective than antibiotics for sinus infections; they really help with a cold, too.

As gross as it sounds, you put saline powder in your little pot and add water; then flush the nasal/sinus cavity. With the Sinu-Cleanse, you bend over a sink and pour the solution in one side of your nose and let it just run out the other side; then reverse. It is gross sounding, but not nearly as bad as you might think - and it does a fantastic job of cleaning areas where germs can get trapped.

I'm sure your "boys" wouldn't appreciate doing this, but it could really help them fight off the risk of catching the flu.

Enjoyed reading this, and it brings back the older folks remedies... mom use to put salt in a pan of hot water and soon as it stop boiling she let you breath it with a towel over your head. It moisture the in surface of the nose, keep the flu from taking over. Now, you can use the counter saline ... and it works... if the nose has moisture , it makes it harder to pick up the germs.

[Febbie]

For years and years while living in coastal zones I stocked up in advance of hurricane season..


Tomorrow I plan to begin stocking up on supplies in advance of the H1N1. If the flu hits hard we won't have to go out and risk exposure. If there is a declared pandemic, well I hope to be prepared.

Anyone else considering doing the same?

Friend of mine and a fellow poster, contacted me yesterday, the doctor has told her she has the H1N1, and last night she had a hard time breathing. In Canada they were giving the shots and she was scared to take it. She worked with 20-30 people, so now they will have to be checked.

[texanne]

My grandson's dr. prescribed one of the sinus flush systems for him already. It really helped when he had a sinus infection recently. The salt water solution trick was something a friend of mine had already started using. He was advised my his scrap metal collector (of all people) to use it. He laughed because he had given up on getting permanent relief from his doctor. We put hand sanitizer in their backpacks (since a couple of years ago). I still wish I could find the immunization shots. We were promised last fall that this year there would be plenty of them. Over a year, and still shot rationing.

[PatC]

I've always wondered just how to do a salt water "sinus flush". I've heard about it for years along with gargling with warm salt water for a sore throat.

[texanne]

We had to buy the flush thing at the pharmacy. My friend uses an old eye dropper bottle to keep his salt water in, and just drops some in his nose to clear the sinuses. The flush is a gross thing...but it gave my grandson much needed relief.

[awakening2lite]

My grandson's dr. prescribed one of the sinus flush systems for him already. It really helped when he had a sinus infection recently. The salt water solution trick was something a friend of mine had already started using. He was advised my his scrap metal collector (of all people) to use it. He laughed because he had given up on getting permanent relief from his doctor. We put hand sanitizer in their backpacks (since a couple of years ago). I still wish I could find the immunization shots. We were promised last fall that this year there would be plenty of them. Over a year, and still shot rationing.

Contact your local Walgreens - they have the shots.

[awakening2lite]

Friend of mine and a fellow poster, contacted me yesterday, the doctor has told her she has the H1N1, and last night she had a hard time breathing. In Canada they were giving the shots and she was scared to take it. She worked with 20-30 people, so now they will have to be checked.

I feel bad for your friend and her co-workers.

I am disgusted the two antiviral drugs to fight H1N1 (and which need to be started within 48 hours) are not available over the counter. One must drag themselves into a Drs office risking the lives of everyone in there to be prescribed. This means at the very first sign of infection one must be able to diagnose and get an appointment.


Treatment: Tamiflu and Relenza

Both in short supply. A third, reported to be identical to the Tamiflu and Relenze, called Antiflu, is not yet available in the US and Canada. Yesterday, I searched for an online source for the treatment, hoping to have it on hand and avoid going out risking the lives of others. Forget about it! All I could find was a place out of Asia.


Today I am going to the grocery and stocking up on canned and packaged foods, drinks, waters, disinfectants, sanitizers, TP, pet supplies, and masks. I don't want to risk going out to the grocery as the number of infected increase.

Fox just announced the death count is 4000 - that's 3 times the prediction for this point in time.

[Febbie]

I feel bad for your friend and her co-workers.

I am disgusted the two antiviral drugs to fight H1N1 (and which need to be started within 48 hours) are not available over the counter. One must drag themselves into a Drs office risking the lives of everyone in there to be prescribed. This means at the very first sign of infection one must be able to diagnose and get an appointment.


Treatment: Tamiflu and Relenza

Both in short supply. A third, reported to be identical to the Tamiflu and Relenze, called Antiflu, is not yet available in the US and Canada. Yesterday, I searched for an online source for the treatment, hoping to have it on hand and avoid going out risking the lives of others. Forget about it! All I could find was a place out of Asia.


Today I am going to the grocery and stocking up on canned and packaged foods, drinks, waters, disinfectants, sanitizers, TP, pet supplies, and masks. I don't want to risk going out to the grocery as the number of infected increase.

Fox just announced the death count is 4000 - that's 3 times the prediction for this point in time.

Yes, it is awful that the shots are not available, and our family and friends could die from this. Last year it was hard for some to get the flu shot... now the H1N1 shots are out of reach.

I watched as a lady came in the doctor office last week, and she wanted a flu shot, and they told her they did not have any...give me a break the season has just began they should have been stocked up for this.
I followed her out doors and told her to go to the heath clinic and she would get her shot. I hope she did, but the dr office should have advised her to do this. :duh:

[texanne]

Update: I called the county health dept. today (again)...they will not be getting any H1N1 vaccine. I called Walgreens (again) ...they will have some in a few weeks. Weren't we told last fall that the vaccine would be plentiful this fall? Did our govt. lie to us?

[awakening2lite]

Update: I called the county health dept. today (again)...they will not be getting any H1N1 vaccine. I called Walgreens (again) ...they will have some in a few weeks. Weren't we told last fall that the vaccine would be plentiful this fall? Did our govt. lie to us?


Something is a bit off, Texanne. Take a look at how many Texas received.

This is from the cdc web site:

Vaccine Shipment Status
by Project Area
Posted November 13, 2009, 1:30 PM ET

Project Areas*** Total Doses Shipped as of 11/11/09**

Alabama 572,600
Alaska 83,400
American Samoa 2000
Arizona 753,400
Arkansas 356,700
California 4,389,700
Chicago 392,900
Colorado 551,700
Connecticut 466,700
Delaware 80,700
District of Columbia 68,300
Federal Worker Program* 144,900
Florida 2,066,200
Georgia 930,300
Guam 21,000
Hawaii 130,000
Idaho 200,900
Illinois 1,287,900
Indiana 849,700
Iowa 317,900
Kansas 278,600
Kentucky 469,800
Louisiana 464,100
Maine 178,700
Marshall Islands 0
Maryland 703,500
Massachusetts 867,900
Michigan 1,083,200
Micronesia 10,400
Minnesota 615,200
Mississippi 218,200
Missouri 583,700
Montana 107,300
Nebraska 238,000
Nevada 201,300
New Hampshire 163,100
New Jersey 1,075,000
New Mexico 144,800
New York 1,236,300
New York City 1,028,000
North Carolina 1,044,700
North Dakota 84,400
Northern Mariana Islands 11,200
Ohio 1,414,200
Oklahoma 383,300
Oregon 406,700
Pennsylvania 1,234,000
Philadelphia 175,400
Puerto Rico 155,100
Republic of Palau 4,100
Rhode Island 111,700
South Carolina 481,800
South Dakota 108,500
Tennessee 811,600
Texas 2,576,100
Utah 295,700
Vermont 78,200
Virgin Islands 10,000
Virginia 1,007,100
Washington 647,100
West Virginia 249,900
Wisconsin 694,800
Wyoming 63,100

*For more information, please visit: http://www.opm.gov/pandemic/memos/h1n1_20090930.asphttp://www.cdc.gov/TemplatePackage/images/icon_out.png (http://www.opm.gov/pandemic/memos/h1n1_20090930.asp)
**There is a lag time between allocation, ordering, and shipment of doses as project areas place orders and those orders are processed and shipped.
***Project areas reflect CDC Public Health Emergency Response (PHER) Grantees

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/vaccination/vaccinesupply.htm

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Here's my personal beef. Ok, they are giving the shots to the people most likely to be in the most danger, er that is as the shots become available. BUT, for all those who may be exposed or who step aside allowing others to receive a shot or are not deemed to be the most in need of a shot - they can still be infected and spread the virus or die. There are only two treatments for the virus, once exposed, that's the Tamiflu and Relenza. Both of those treatments are ONLY available by prescription and MUST begin dosing within 48 hours. That means going to the Drs. Well, first self diagnosis is required, getting an immediate appointment and then finding a pharmacy with the medication. BTW the cdc is assuring us that supplies might run low for Tamiflu and Relenza.

What's the problem with that, one may ask?

Self diagnosis - if we are doing that why can't it be sold over the counter?
Getting an immediate Drs appointment - yea right
Exposing those in the Drs with your H1N1 or exposing yourself to it. (again, why isn't it being sold over the counter?)
If you don't fall into the category for the shot - why can't you get the medication to fight the virus over the counter?

So, we have the case where ALL those who have self-diagnosed H1N1 are compelled to venture out and expose care givers, among others, at the Drs (that is, if they can get an appointment within the first 48 hours), then venture to the drug store to expose all the people there. All this could easily be avoided if the med supplies could be purchased in advance as are other flu and cold meds.

This holding back the meds is a sure fire method of spreading the virus. Making the only treatments hard to get --- ?

It all sounds like a plot to one of those bad panic movies of the 70's and 80's - only this is real.


And that is my opinion.


Oh, hold the phone, don't bother with the Drs appointment, one must fall within certain groups and be hospitalized. Here is the new cdc recommendations of who should receive the treatments:

Who is prioritized for treatment with influenza antiviral drugs?

Most people ill with influenza will recover without complications.
Some people are at highest risk of influenza-related complications and are prioritized for treatment with influenza antiviral drugs this season. They include:


People with more severe illness, such as those hospitalized with suspected or confirmed influenza
People with suspected or confirmed influenza who are at higher risk for complications

Children younger than 2 years old
Adults 65 years and older
Pregnant women
People with certain chronic medical or immunosuppressive conditions

People younger than 19 years of age who are receiving long-term aspirin therapy

Children 2 years to 4 years old are more likely to require hospitalization or urgent medical evaluation for influenza compared with older children, although the risk is much lower than for children younger than 2 years old. Children aged 2 years to 4 years without high risk conditions and who are not severely ill do not necessarily require antiviral treatment.
Children and adults presenting with suspected influenza who have symptoms of lower respiratory tract illness or clinical deterioration should also receive prompt empiric antiviral therapy, regardless of previous health or age.
Physicians may also decide not to treat some people in these groups and/or treat people who are not in these groups based on their clinical judgment.
Who is lower priority for treatment with influenza antiviral drugs?

Treatment with influenza antiviral drugs is generally not needed for people who are not at higher risk for complications or do not have severe influenza, such as those requiring hospitalization. However, any suspected influenza patient who presents with emergency warning signs (for example, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath) or signs of lower respiratory tract illness or worsening illness should seek medical care promptly receive antiviral therapy when indicated.
Doctors may treat some people who are not in a high risk group based on their clinical judgment. In addition, doctors also may decide that treatment is not needed for some who are in a high risk group based on their clinical judgment.
Which influenza antiviral drugs should be used for treatment this season?

At this time, treatment with oseltamivir (trade name Tamiflu®) or zanamivir (trade name Relenza®) is recommended for all people with suspected or confirmed influenza who require hospitalization.



http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/antiviral.htm

[texanne]

In looking at the number of doses per state, I see something different when it comes to NY. NY state got over a million doses...and New York City got over a million doses. I realize California got over 4 million, but why was NYC singled out on the list? I don't see where LA, Houston, Chicago, etc got their own separate supply. I guess I am more curious than anything else....especially given the number of cases in California and the size of LA alone.