An update.
Although there is increased evidence of human disease from Bird Flu, there is nothing currently with which to be concerned. It does seem that these infections come from direct contact with infected chickens, turkeys, ducks and cattle.
The current risk of infection for the general public is low.
I do believe that the increased spread of the disease in livestock, both commercial and private, will eventually result in the generation of a viral strain that will infect humans and spread human-human, but the time frame is not possible to predict.
I do want to remind everyone about what “the Flu” is and what it is not.
When you meet someone who says that they were laid up yesterday with “the Flu”, but feel much better today, they DID NOT have influenza.
There are a wide range of viruses, whose infections cause similar symptoms: cough, scratchy throat, chills, fever, aches, runny nose, etc. The bulk of these infections are rather benign, causing infections that last a few days and that are well treated with fever reducers, cough medicine and other medications for sneezing, running nose, congestion, etc.
Most of the time these infections begin with, perhaps a scratchy throat in the evening or morning, which becomes a cough hours later, followed by fever, sneezing and other symptoms, so that within about 24 hours you feel sick.
THIS IS NOT THE FLU.
Influenza comes upon you very quickly, from feeling fine to feeling quite ill in a matter of hours.
And when you are infected with Influenza, you can become VERY ill.
A physician once described “the Flu”, as feeling like you are going to die, but afraid that you won’t.
This is a serious illness that can result in your becoming bedridden for a week or more, and recovery can take from weeks to months.
Remember, please, that in the 1918 Spanish Flu outbreak, young people got sick in the morning and were dead by that night.
Vaccines will become available. Please take them ASAP.
We can hope that the current Administration takes this extremely seriously and moves to quickly contain the outbreak when it does occur.