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How You Can Protect Yourself From Bird Flu

A pandemic of the bird flu is a very real possibility, possibly even inevitable. This is perhaps one of the greatest threats to humans currently known. This is a serious virus, that so far has been resistant to current medications. It has the possibility of mutating and becoming able to be spread from person to person. In fact, nobody knows for certain if it is already able to spread that way. In at least one case, person to person transmission could not be ruled out. You need to protect yourself.

Here are some tips to help you protect yourself from bird flu. Make sure, first and foremost, that you know the facts. This is the information age, there is no reason to be without the facts, and there is plenty of information available on the net. Make sure you know what it is, what symptoms to watch for, and keep up to date on any recent outbreaks and findings. You should always be able to find the latest information on the internet.

You also need to follow good old fashioned common sense! Just a little bit of basic common sense will go a very long way. Wash your hands often, especially after using the restroom, preparing food, and coming into any surface that may have been contaminated. Avoid rubbing your nose, ears, and eyes, and mouth. Viruses spread easily that way. You also need to make sure that you cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough. Make sure you help your children remember to do the same, they often forget. You should also minimize the amount of contact that you have with people who are or might be ill. Person to person transmission is not currently thought to be possible, but it has not been entirely ruled out. If you become ill, you should minimize contact with others so that you do not infect them with anything that you might have. Just as with common sense, good manners will also go a long way.

Avoid surfaces that may have been contaminated with bird droppings. Cars, window sills, and outdoor furniture are likely surfaces that have been contaminated. Cleanse these surfaces thoroughly with disinfectant, like a bleach solution, and wear a protective mask when coming into contact with these surfaces. You will need to remember that antibacterial soaps are useless, as this is a virus, not a bacteria, and that flu shots will not help. In fact, flu shots can weaken your immune system, and may do more harm than good. The current flu shots are not for this current strain of the avian influenza virus, so they will not protect you from it.

The absolute best defense is not to be caught unaware when pandemic does strike. Make sure you prepare, and prepare early, and use all of the tips above to protect yourself against the avian influenza virus. As the old saying goes, the best defense is a well thought out offense right?