When I began this blog in 2001, I was appalled by President Bush's headlong rush to an illegal war (we were not in fact under attack). As time wore on and Bush began his assault on the Constitution and any people bold enough to criticize, I believed that "the republic is endangered more by actions of our own government than by those of any terrorist." With the election of a high-minded, compassionate, intelligent man like Barack Obama, my fears have ceased.
"Honor them with peace, not war"
United for Peace
Monday, October 24, 2005
The U.S. Center for Disease Control states this summary of bird flu:
Reading about avian flu in the newspaper and, especially, watching most TV news stories is close to useless, in my opinion, since they mostly hype the risk -- "Code Red! Code Red!!" -- without offering any sense of where lies the real risk and what to do to ameliorate it. Should we stop eating eggs? should we kill our pet budgies? Is turkey off the menu for Thanksgiving dinner? Is it a bad idea to take that trip to China or Vietnam?
Several websites offer answers to these and other questions, despite the fact that several important things are still unknown. Unknown but not unknowable, please note.
I did a google search on the phrase bird flu protection, and among the best things I turned up is the website of National Public Radio, which carries a number of interesting and useful articles.
One of their articles is Q&A: What is Bird Flu and Who's At Risk? which carries useful and reassuring information.Reassuring because it provides some answers about decreasing risks.
About that pet budgie: if he has lived in your house his whole life,he is not likely to be an infection source. But now may not be a good time to buy a new bird!
Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
Bird flu: what's the risk, what should we do about it?
The U.S. Center for Disease Control states this summary of bird flu:
As of Sept. 22, 2005, 115 human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1) have been reported since January 2004: 91 in Vietnam, 17 in Thailand, 4 in Cambodia, and 3 in Indonesia, resulting in 59 deaths
Reading about avian flu in the newspaper and, especially, watching most TV news stories is close to useless, in my opinion, since they mostly hype the risk -- "Code Red! Code Red!!" -- without offering any sense of where lies the real risk and what to do to ameliorate it. Should we stop eating eggs? should we kill our pet budgies? Is turkey off the menu for Thanksgiving dinner? Is it a bad idea to take that trip to China or Vietnam?
Several websites offer answers to these and other questions, despite the fact that several important things are still unknown. Unknown but not unknowable, please note.
I did a google search on the phrase bird flu protection, and among the best things I turned up is the website of National Public Radio, which carries a number of interesting and useful articles.
One of their articles is Q&A: What is Bird Flu and Who's At Risk? which carries useful and reassuring information.Reassuring because it provides some answers about decreasing risks.
The virus on feathers and down is usually from fecal contamination and we know that the virus remains infectious in contaminated feces for almost a week at room temperature and up to three weeks in the cold.The CDC website has a list of precautions to take to minimize one's risk -- practices that for the most part one would follow anyway, such as caution in preparing meat or poultry and frequent hand-washing with soap and hot water, and what information to give your doctor is you suspect you may be infected.
There are a number of ways to kill the virus -- heat is a good way. But just simple soap and water are excellent. Also many disinfectants and commercial cleaners will work.
About that pet budgie: if he has lived in your house his whole life,he is not likely to be an infection source. But now may not be a good time to buy a new bird!
Palema
6:35 AM
Comments:
Note re the mortality rate: the press sems to round down the number of cases (above 100) and round up the number of deaths (about 60) leaving the impression of a 60% death rate. Working the actual numbers, it is about 51 percent. Still not good, but more accurate. Even so, when I first read about bird flu, I got the impression nearly everyone would die who contracted it. It's nice to know it is possible to survive!
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Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
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