what we can do to protect ourselves from the bird flu?
96334
Not a lot other than the obvious methods, since influenza is highly contagious.\n1) Don't touch your eyeballs (easy to infect yourself that way)\n2) Wash hands\n3) Stay away from children\n4) Reduce your daily contact with people\n5) Don't eat in restaurants (see above)\n6) Get a flu shot (all flu sucks, and regular flu can kill you too, not just bird flu)
535981
Influenza is a real threat only when it crosses the species barrier i.e. can be transmitted from pigs to birds to humans.  So far this Avian flu has not crossed the species barrier to humans, staying within the confines of the bird community.  Once humans start displaying the symptoms of the Avian flu, then we will have something to worry about.  Best course of action: make sure your immune system is up to scratch and don't worry because itll take some time to mutate, unless we fight it with antibiotics which will make it mutate faster and then.........
151139
It is called the foot and mouth diseae which attackes cattle like pigs, cows, goats and so on. Looks like livestocks, including chickens that spread the bird flu are not to be taken for the time being. If you worry, take fish only or opt to be a vegeterian instead.Meantime, protection yourself by taking lots fruits becos they contain Vit.C and eating raw garlic or pills form of it.
309598
I think they would have to. That pic is probably the CDC not taking any chances, but if someone showed up with it, they couldn't keep doctors and hospitals quiet. I hate to say it, but the US has enough on its plate now not having to deal with Bird Flu.
623472
Here's what's recommended for the bird flu -\n\nface masks\ngloves\na complete medical kit\npowered gatorade\nbottled water supplies\nMREs (meals ready to eat)\nTamiflu\n\nGet your dr to write a script for Tamiflu & set it aside\nin case you do contract the flu. If at all possible, have\na prescription for every member of your household. The flu shot is useless in this case. Use the face masks & gloves if you absolutely have to go out amongst people who might be exposed to the flu. If you have to stay in your home for three months, you will need to survive - hence the stockpile of water & food that can be eaten without cooking (what if we lose power?) Clean Water, especially, is essential. I know this sounds like a strange suggestion, but read The Stand by Stephen King - there were a lot of survival tips in there that I would not have thought of - it deals with pandemic & gives you a different perspective on what life would/could be like if millions & millions die. Most of this is common sense, but a lot of people lack in that department. I've been following the progress of the bird flu for a while now & am anxious because I don't want my children to get it, so I looked up all the things we'd need to survive. I hope it doesn't come to pandemic, because America is so not prepared. Good luck!
65866
There aren't any medicines that can prevent it - that's why it's such a potential problem. Here is what has been recommended in Asia:\n\n1. Exercise regularly\n2. Eat nutritiously\n3. Don't touch birds (a lot of people in Asia buy live poultry in the street markets and take them home to kill them, etc.)\n4. Wash your hands often\n\nSome people here were getting Tamiflu shots, but I don't know if that even prevents it. And a lot of people aren't eating chicken at all anymore.\n\nHope you stay well and safe.
718190
After consulation with members of the health protection agency (UK), i disagree with the last guy to answer. The general consensus of opinion is that bird flu will mutate, and it is obly a matter of time. However, it may mutate and lose its virility; it may end up no more annoying than a cold. It may have even already mutated, but we just havent noticed it in the population...\n\nHow do i plan to prepare? the best advice is to take any flu jabs OFFERED, and have a few extra tin goods in the house, so you can stay inside longer than normal, but there is no need to panic buy.\n\nBird flu has currently got a death rate of 56%, which is very high for any disease, and avain flu's have a habit of mutating into a mammalian form, so we should be on our guard.
155422
To protect us from their germs and bad breath, and to protect themselves from ours.
175114
try chicken noodle soup and going to your doctor. the doctor would probably write you a prescription for antibiotics if it's bacterial. if the flu strain you have is viral (a virus) then you can take over the counter products to help with the symptoms. a virus has to run its course, as there are no cures for viruses.
935597
most health care people receive the flu shot, just warn them in advance, and wash your hands a lot, use hand sanitizer before you touch public things if you are coughing a lot
1093745
That's just turkeys with bird flu. Try to avoid those.
120313
So far bird flu is not contagious from human to human.  So unless someone brings home a flock of chickens, I don't think you have much to worry about.
1020451
Actually bird flu is affecting people. Well over 200 people world wide have been infected with the virus. The fatality rate is over 50%, and it has been spreading across Asia, Europe and Africa.\n\nMany of these infections have resulted from close contact with poultry, but there are several clusters of infection where the virus has been spread from person to person. \n\nOne recent cluster was on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. A woman contracted the disease and it spread from her to seven members of her family. Seven of the eight family members died.\n\nRight now we are seeing only limited person to person transmission. The fear is that the virus will mutate so that person to person transmission will happen easily and we will have a pandemic.\n\nEverytime a person gets avian flu (bird flu) there is a chance of it mutating so that it can be early spread.\n\nWe do not have a vaccine for this particular virus. They can't start working on a vaccine until it does mutate and it will take about 6-8 months to begin to produce vaccine.\n\nThe antiviral medicine Tamiflu may reduce the symptoms and reduce the chance of death, but there isn't enough Taniflu. At this point it looks as though medical personnel may get the first doses so that they can continue to take care of patients who have the flu.\n\nThe government has asked people to prepare for the flu by stocking supplies for our families in case we are asked to  practice "social distancing." That would be a quarantine where people are told to stay home to reduce the spread of the disease. Schools would close, there would be no church services, concerts, meetings, etc.\n\nWe are asked to have food, water, medicine, medical supplies, etc.\n\nIf you are interested in knowing more about bird flu, a good source of information is http://www.avianflutalk.com/  You will find current news, discussion, information about bird flu, and people who will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.
285043
I have heard stories of killer bees being a huge threat, a huge flu season for the last three years, so I'm a little skeptical about this bird flu.\n\nThat being said having an emergency plan for any contingency is ALWAYS a good thing.  The old Boy Scout motto of being alway prepared comes to mind
221980
Hmmm, not sure what you mean about resolution, but one of the means by which the US gov't has proposed to use in case of bird flu is martial law.  Everyone will be restricted to their houses until the virus has died off.  \n\nThe Bush administration was criticized for such a plan, and I'm not sure how effective it would be, but there's one plan for you!
52871
there is no 100% prevention from influenza.The two best ways to assisst you in reducing your chances of getting influenza are: 1) Get your flu shot every year. The flu season is late this year so it is still not too late to get immunized. 2) Proper handwashing technique. Wash your hands in a downward position under warm water for 20 seconds using soap. Be sure to scrub under your nails and in between your fingers. Dry with electric dryer or papertowel and then turn off the taps. If you touch anything -do not put your hands into your mouth before you wash. Cleanliness is the second best prevention. BUT remember there is no 100% protection
430997
penicillin doesn't work with viruses\n\nan immunization is a mild case of the disease as far as your body is concerned, and passive immunity through breast milk only lasts as long as the child is breastfeedidng.\n\nan immunization is the only way to deal with the bird flu- short of killing every bird in the world.\n\nbut there is another question that we are not prepared to answer--- should we immunize?should we continue to reduce mortality  in areas that cannot support the populations they have?  why continue to have unchecked population growth when it will only lead eventually to famine and war for deminishing resources?