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What is ‘Bird Flu?’ Informational meeting looks at flu history, good health habits
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By Laura Bacon, NT Staff Writer
ATLANTIC - The question at two recent informational meetings held at the Cass County Memorial Hospital (CCMH) was “What do I need to know about this ‘Bird Flu’ everyone is talking about?”
Crystal Starlin, CCMH Director of Pharmacy, presented the programs after attending a seminar sponsored by The Center for Biopreparedness Education, on the pandemic flu. “Bird Flu has received a lot of media attention the last couple of years, and has caused some concern in the general public,” Starlin said. “This session is intended to answer many of the questions people have, and educate them as to effective strategies to deal with any type of communicable diseases.”
Starlin’s presentation talked about what the “flu” really was, explaining symptoms and what types of flu there are, and how flu is spread.
She explained that learning - and teaching - good health habits that can help prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Frequent hand washing with soup and water, or alcohol based hand washes, covering coughs and sneezes with tissues, and staying away from others when sick, including staying home from work or school if ill, were suggested.
Parents were encouraged to teach the habits to their children, “So they will be a habit,” in case of an outbreak, Starlin said.
The presentation explained that “Bird Flu” was an avian influenza, which has been seen in Asia, the Middle East Africa and some European countries. While wild or domestic birds can carry it, it can infect humans. According to the World Health Organization, as of July, there have been 331 human cases since 2003, with 202 of those cases resulting in death. Health officials are tracking Bird Flu cases carefully, because while it is rare for humans to be infected, and it doesn’t normally pass from one infected human to another, there is a chance it could mutate.
According to the presentation, if an individual infected with Bird Flu also got a human flu, the two could combine, creating a new variety of flu that could cross from human to human, and would be more severe, and possibly deadly.
The program also explained the difference between a flu epidemic and a flu pandemic. While flu epidemics happen each year and affect more limited areas, flu pandemics “happen only occasionally, when a completely new influenza virus circulates.” Three pandemics have occurred since 1900.
In 1918 the “Spanish Flu” was responsible for 20-40 million deaths worldwide. In 1957 the “Asian Flu,” and in 1968 the “Hong Kong Flu” caused 1-4 million deaths worldwide each.
Denise Coder, Community Health Coordinator, said common sense planning recommended for families and individuals in case of things like a pandemic flu outbreak would also be useful for other emergencies like floods, snowstorms and tornadoes.
Families and individuals are encouraged to think and plan ahead for these kinds of disasters.
Storing a two-weeks supply of water and food was recommended, in case it is hard to get to stores, or stores are unable to replenish their stock.
Individuals taking prescription drugs are encouraged to make sure they have an adequate supply on hand, and homes should be stocked with non-prescription drugs and health supplies like pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold remedies, vitamins and fluids with electrolytes.
Families should discuss emergency plans. Talking about how families might react in case of disaster, with plans for evacuation as well as how they might care for other children or relatives in the home if they were homebound is also important.
Other suggestions are volunteering with local groups to prepare to assist in emergencies, and getting involved in community plans in case of emergencies.
COMMENTS ON THESE STORIES ARE WELCOME, BUT FULL NAMES AND PHONE NUMBERS MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE POSTING FOR VERIFICATION, BEFORE THEY WILL BE RUN. PHONE NUMBERS WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED. THANK YOU.
Crystal Starlin, CCMH Director of Pharmacy, presented the programs after attending a seminar sponsored by The Center for Biopreparedness Education, on the pandemic flu. “Bird Flu has received a lot of media attention the last couple of years, and has caused some concern in the general public,” Starlin said. “This session is intended to answer many of the questions people have, and educate them as to effective strategies to deal with any type of communicable diseases.”
Starlin’s presentation talked about what the “flu” really was, explaining symptoms and what types of flu there are, and how flu is spread.
She explained that learning - and teaching - good health habits that can help prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Frequent hand washing with soup and water, or alcohol based hand washes, covering coughs and sneezes with tissues, and staying away from others when sick, including staying home from work or school if ill, were suggested.
Parents were encouraged to teach the habits to their children, “So they will be a habit,” in case of an outbreak, Starlin said.
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According to the presentation, if an individual infected with Bird Flu also got a human flu, the two could combine, creating a new variety of flu that could cross from human to human, and would be more severe, and possibly deadly.
The program also explained the difference between a flu epidemic and a flu pandemic. While flu epidemics happen each year and affect more limited areas, flu pandemics “happen only occasionally, when a completely new influenza virus circulates.” Three pandemics have occurred since 1900.
In 1918 the “Spanish Flu” was responsible for 20-40 million deaths worldwide. In 1957 the “Asian Flu,” and in 1968 the “Hong Kong Flu” caused 1-4 million deaths worldwide each.
Denise Coder, Community Health Coordinator, said common sense planning recommended for families and individuals in case of things like a pandemic flu outbreak would also be useful for other emergencies like floods, snowstorms and tornadoes.
Families and individuals are encouraged to think and plan ahead for these kinds of disasters.
Storing a two-weeks supply of water and food was recommended, in case it is hard to get to stores, or stores are unable to replenish their stock.
Individuals taking prescription drugs are encouraged to make sure they have an adequate supply on hand, and homes should be stocked with non-prescription drugs and health supplies like pain relievers, stomach remedies, cough and cold remedies, vitamins and fluids with electrolytes.
Families should discuss emergency plans. Talking about how families might react in case of disaster, with plans for evacuation as well as how they might care for other children or relatives in the home if they were homebound is also important.
Other suggestions are volunteering with local groups to prepare to assist in emergencies, and getting involved in community plans in case of emergencies.
COMMENTS ON THESE STORIES ARE WELCOME, BUT FULL NAMES AND PHONE NUMBERS MUST BE INCLUDED IN THE POSTING FOR VERIFICATION, BEFORE THEY WILL BE RUN. PHONE NUMBERS WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED. THANK YOU.
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