I’ve been following the influenza outbreak of 2018 and I’m almost to the point of paranoia as far as safety measures are concerned. I invite the readers to study up on influenza strain H3N2 and decide for yourself just how high your risk is.
I’ve spent the weekend watching documentaries of the 1918 influenza outbreak that killed at least 50 million worldwide and infected 500 million. Some sources estimate as many as 100 million may have died since many didn’t have time or money to seek treatment. The influenza outbreak of 1918 hit hard and it hit fast. Part of the reason it spread was WWI. Whether it was troops being dispatched or rallies held in support of the troops, the current state of the United States is eerily similar. People gathering to support political issues in the U.S., and the 2018 Winter Olympics set for February.
What makes this especially deadly is the new announcement that you can get the “Aussie flu” by simply breathing the same air as an infected person. The H3N2 virus is mutating (viruses LOVE to do that), leaving the flu vaccine between 10 percent to 33 percent effective. Doctors stress the vaccine should be taken regardless. Having lost my father only four days after he took the Swine flu vaccine in 1976 and my mother four days after she was given the regular vaccine in 2001, I plan to use herbs rather than the vaccine.
So what does the flu season have to do with pets? Think of how many adoption events are held each weekend. Of how many families attend the events and pet the available dogs and cats. I’ve been reading up on dog influenza and that cats can become exposed by anyone who cares for the cat in a shelter or home setting, which makes me even more paranoid.
Anyone who pets a cat or dog who is infected but hasn’t shown symptoms can leave remnants of the virus behind for the next person who pets the animal. Be extra careful to wash your hands when dealing with your pets. I won’t go into any percentages of how likely you are to get sick from touching a cat or dog. I would be very careful when visiting a shelter or even a veterinary clinic since being out in public for any reason for the foreseeable future may put you at risk.
Thoughts, anyone? How are you protecting your family during the 2018 flu season? Whether or not you have pets at home, everyone is invited to comment. Especially on what products are safe to use around pets and which are potentially fatal.
Are any of you afraid or is this just another flu season for you?
I should mention the importance of getting enough sleep and eating well in order to reduce the possibility of getting the flu or other respiratory ailment. I though I had quickly thrown off a bout of coughing and sneezing but then I missed most of a night’s sleep due to having to repair a tricky electrical fault which happened at 2 in the morning. The power would be needed later that morning by the technician to find out why my Internet was down. As it turned out the problem was with the Internet provider not my equipment, but next day the cough was back again!
I rarely get a cold or flu, but I got this one, when a friend came to visit, not knowing she was carrying the flu. She had no symptoms until she returned home, and then called to let me know.
I spent several days in bed, coughing up mucous, and blowing my nose. It has left me very weak and tired. I took Mucinex, which helped a little.
I’m better now, but not over it. I don’t get flu or pneumonia shots, and doubt if it would have helped. I’ve seen people get very sick following flu shots, so I’m opting out and will continue to take my chances.
I’m hoping this will provide some immunity for the rest of the season.
P.S. I always wear gloves when I’m in stores of any kind. I’ve seen people do very inconsiderate things with their germs, after coughing into their hand.
The Herbal Expec cough syrup is the best over the counter I’ve found. Most run my blood pressure up or the ones that don’t run it up just don’t work. We use colloidal silver for about any illness we get. I may get the pneumonia shot because I’ve had pneumonia 3 times in 7 years. I almost died from the flu back around 2004 when the wrong strain vaccine was given. I was a cashier and went into work at 3pm and by 7pm I thought I was dying. I havn’t had the flu since then. My ex had taken the vaccine and he was a day behind me getting sick. From what I’ve seen from the 1918 flu and the 2018 flu is people drown in their own lung fluid. So I’m taking the Black Seed lung formula as a preventative and have the other medications on hand just in case because no one wants to go buy medicine when they’re too sick to get out of bed. I even changed my Dr. checkup appointment because it’s so bad.
Thanks Elisa.
Many thanks!