Showing posts with label preparedness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label preparedness. Show all posts
Friday, July 5, 2013
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Endemic, Epidemic, Pandemic What do they mean?
Author: Ann O Leary
The swine flu vaccination program began a couple of weeks ago and is now in full swing. Some of the terminology used in discussing this infection can be quite confusing so here are some terms you may come across.
An infection is said to be Endemic in a population when there is a constant amount of infection present. For example in the UK there will be a number of chicken pox cases reported each year. The chicken pox is passed around from person to person but as long as the number infected remains more or less the same each year, then we can say that chicken pox is endemic in the population.
On the other hand if we take malaria as an example, we will find a number of cases detected each year in travelers returning from abroad. The number may even be the same from year to year. There is one significant difference however, and that is, that the infection cannot be passed on from person to person. In the case of malaria we need the presence of an external factor for the disease to run through the population. This factor is the malaria carrying mosquito and since this insect does not exist in the UK, the disease cannot become endemic.
The definition rests on the fact that the numbers infected each year remains substantially the same and that the disease is capable of passing from person to person.
An Epidemic occurs when new cases of infection exceed substantially what is normally expected in a population. The epidemic could be restricted to a specific hub such as a school or a city or it could affect an entire country. For an epidemic we need high levels of infection that eventually level out and fall back.
For a Pandemic to occur we need a completely new disease to emerge which can be transmitted globally. The present swine flu pandemic is such a disease.
When we hear of an epidemic or pandemic we assume the worst. It is important to remember that the terms refer to numbers and transmission of infection. The terms do not refer to the seriousness of the disease. For example it is possible to have a pandemic of a very mild infection. So when we hear of epidemics or pandemics we need to look at the disease in question as well as the risk of infection .
Another term to look at is Vaccination itself. Normally our bodies produce antibodies in response to an infection. Pharmaceutical companies create vaccines by taking organisms and treating them so that they cannot cause an infection. When the vaccine is administered our bodies automatically respond as if an infection has occurred and we are prompted to produce antibodies. By taking a vaccine we give ourselves advance protection against specific diseases.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/endemic-epidemic-pandemic-what-do-they-mean-1628450.html
About the Author
Ann O Leary is a biomedical scientist and a commentator on health care issues through her blog "Thoughts on a Healthy Lifestyle". http://www.ann-o-leary.com
10 Lifesaving Tips for Surviving a Killer Flu Pandemic
Author: Julie Butler
A new killer flu virus is on its way. Ducks and geese carrying this virus are now winging their way across the globe, spreading the disease wherever they go. Started in Asia, it has now spread to Europe. Soon it will be in North and South America. So far it has only killed a few dozen humans. It is, after all, a virus that's passed from bird to bird. Or from bird to animals. So far it can't be transmitted from human to human. But flu viruses are crafty. They have the ability to change.
This is what happened in 1918 when the Spanish Flu Pandemic swept over a war weary planet killing 50 - 100 million people - far more than were killed in the war. This time it will be much worse. After all, we now have 4 times the number of people living on the planet. And most of them live in cities. Large, crowded cities. The five largest cities in the world have over 100 million people living in them.
A killer virus that can be passed from human to human, let loose in our major cities where people are living elbow to elbow, would have a catastrophic effect. And consider this...back in 1918 it was a much bigger world. It took weeks to get from one side of the world to the other. It took days to get from one side of the continent to the next. Today it takes hours. Last year more than 46 million international visitors came to the United States. If only one infected visitor passes on the virus to 2 others, who pass it on to 2 others, and so on, by the end of a month everyone in the US could be infected. I don't even want to consider the implications if this idea ever occurs to muslim terrorists who are only too happy to blow themselves to bits in order to take out a few infidels.
So what can we do? Fortunately it's not all doom and gloom. There are some very specific steps you can take to minimize the dangers and protect yourself and your loved ones.
1. Draw up a Plan. Outline the steps you and your family need to take, both pre-pandemic and during. Identify responsibilities for each family member. Make lists of supplies required. Find appropriate sources. Develop a realistic timeline. By establishing a plan now, you will avoid becoming a victim of the panic that will grip the general population, resulting in civil chaos and pandemonium.
2. Keep Informed. If and when the virus mutates so that it is being spread from human to human, it is likely to start in Southeast Asia. Pay attention to the news. When you hear that this has taken place, it's time to act. We might only have weeks before the pandemic reaches North America, but with international travel so fast and easy it could be much sooner. Sign up for free newsletter notifications at http://www.survivetheflu.com .
3. Prepare Your Child for Home Schooling. Most flu outbreaks get their start at schools. You can be certain that the schools will be closed. And if they're not, you should give very serious thought to keeping your children at home.
4. Minimize Contact with Others. The H5N1 avian flu virus can be transmitted for two days before a person is showing any symptoms and for a week after symptoms have disappeared. You never know who isn't and who might be infected. If possible you should stay home. Every time you go into an area where there are people you are at risk.
5. Wash Your Hands Often. Sneeze particles can travel across a room at 600 miles per hour. If the person sneezing has the flu, everything in that room is covered with flu virus. And when you touch anything, the virus is transmitted to your hand. Eventually it will be transmitted to your mouth. Your only protection is to wash your hands, well and often. Each washing should involve vigorous scrubbing with soap for at least 20 seconds.
6. Stock up on Food & Water. Supermarkets only have enough food for about a week or less. It's critical that you stock up on enough food to last you for the duration which could be 3-4 months.
7. Buy Enough Anti-Viral Medication for Every Member of your Family. Currently there are two drugs that can help mitigate the effects of the avian flu virus. One is called oseltamivir, or Tamiflu. It comes in a tablet form. The other is zanamivir, or Relenza, which is inhaled. You will need a prescription for either of these drugs. They should be taken within 2 days of the onset of symptoms and taken twice a day for 5 days. These drugs are in very short supply, especially Tamiflu which is considered the drug of first choice. You should attempt to secure enough for your family as soon as possible, since once a pandemic hits they will be impossible to obtain. Currently you should be able to buy them at your drug store, or you can order them online.
8. Stock up on Face Masks. You will need to wear these when you absolutely have to come into close contact with others. It's likely that any public businesses or government offices that remain open will make it mandatory that you wear a mask before entering. Make sure that your mask has a rating of N100. The more common N95 masks will not give you enough protection. There is one mask -- the NanoMask® -- which not only blocks the H5N1 virus, but kills it as well.
9. Exercise. According to the American Council on Exercise, research has shown that moderate exercise (such as brisk walking) brings about measurable changes in the immune system, sending white blood cells zipping around the body to find intruders and kill them. But after a few hours, the immune system returns to normal so it's best to exercise regularly.
10. Spread the Word. Regardless of how much coverage the avian threat is receiving in the media, most people are reluctant to act. Perhaps if they don't acknowledge the danger they think it will somehow go away. Or maybe they think the government will look after the situation. Desperate, panic stricken people are arguably even more dangerous than the virus. The more people surrounding you who are prepared for the pandemic, the safer you will be. You'll be secure in the knowledge that your neighbors won't be eyeing your resources. So please spread the word.
And don't give up, even though you may feel like the voice in the wilderness. Eventually, if they hear it often enough, some people will take notice. And then they will also spread the word. And in this way we'll all be a little safer. "Up to one billion people could die around the whole world in six months.... We are half a step away from a worldwide pandemic catastrophe." Dmitry K. Lvov, Director, D.I. Ivanovsky Institute of Virology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences. Whether or not it will happen this year, and whether or not it will be as catastrophic as many virologists are predicting, one thing is clear: There WILL be a pandemic of unimaginable proportions some time soon. We can either bury our heads in the sand and hope it won't happen, or we can begin taking immediate steps to ensure that in a worst case scenario, we've given ourselves and our loved ones the best possible chance for survival.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/10-lifesaving-tips-for-surviving-a-killer-flu-pandemic-7124.html
About the Author
A mother of 4, living in central British Columbia, Julie Butler became curious about Avian Flu on a recent trip to California, where residents are required to report dead birds to authorities. Her website at http://www.survivetheflu.com provides updated information and timely tips for dealing with the deadly H5N1 virus.
Friday, June 14, 2013
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