Ask Bonnie
November 2005
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Question #1:
Lately, we hear lots of talk of "pandemics." Now, there is fear over the spread of the "Bird flu." What are your thoughts and are there nutritional supplies we should keep on hand in case of emergencies?
Answer #1:
According to epidemiologists, the form of avian influenza that recently broke out in domesticated chickens, ducks, and turkeys in Asia and Europe has
not been seen in the United States, and there is no certainty that it will be. Direct contact with infected poultry, or surfaces and objects
contaminated by their feces, is now considered the main route of human infection. Most human cases have occurred in rural areas where many households
keep free-roaming flocks. To date, there is no evidence that the disease can be transmitted through contaminated food.
However, we can always take precautions. Most importantly, cooking your poultry well is of the utmost importance. Rinse your poultry well. Make sure the in area that the raw poultry was prepared is cleaned with soap and water. If you attend petting zoos, always make sure that your child's hands are washed extremely well. Do not let them put their fingers near their mouth, ears, or nasal passages.
From a dietary standpoint, it is important to avoid immune suppressing foods, such as sugar, and eat the proper diet for you as an individual. Stress weakens the immune system, so make sure that you have stress management techniques (which you should already have) in place.
What I always say is, "if the host is strong, it will be able to quell most bacterial and viral invaders from taking hold."
Keep in mind that experts are already saying that Tamiflu, the drug the world is stockpiling to repel the bird flu, may not be effective because the virus mutates so quickly, as seen in a Vietnamese girl recently.
If the virus is so virulent, how can a proposed vaccine be able to keep up with its mutating ability?
This and other questions should be answered soon, as prognosticators predict the bird flu may be in the United States by next spring. What we can do at this point is to take care of ourselves (which, in all actuality, you should always be doing)!
Have a happy, healthy day.
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