Flu pandemic?

Any surface touched by 'the public'... this means,bus and subway hand rails, telephones, doors..the pen at the bank counter.. the bowl of unwrapped sweets on the library desk....et cetera is a potential temporary home~ base for virus and bacteria. Touching the face, eyes and mouth is the easiest mode of transport for 'germs' to enter the host..of course walking through clouds of sneezed airbourne particles is another. So, when my son came home from school.. he washed his hands.. using disposable paper towels...before he brought his schoolmate's stew of infection into our home. Hand shaking is outdated and also instant transference of infection... The N-95 mask was promoted during the last SARS flurry.. but don't forget that the outside of the mask will become contaminated.

They say, Anna, that the handles of grocery carts are the worst.  A lot of the stores even provide sanitizing wipes for you to clean them before you use the carts.  But there's also another school of thought that says that these viruses continue to mutate in response to all the sanitizing products on the market today.  Still, can't be too careful if you're in a risky situation.

Yes Ruth, I've seen that ( wipe dispensers )and also at entrances to public health clinics...

I quit aerobics classes 20 years ago, because the facilitator allowed {' post' URI}claimants that they were non- infectious and still coughing! runners into the gym...( I opted for riding my bike outside ) Think of an indoor gym/ weight room in February~~or a public swimming pool and change room.

Those chemistry lab ( commericial band wagon opportunist's) experimental ' sanitizing' lotions, soaps, room sprays are rejected,prefering.lots of hot water and hand made bar soap....( lye and olive oil)....but bacteria can still live on soap..so its a good rinse in clean water.

Tamiflu is the brand name for anti-viral meds.. ask your doctor NOW, for a prescription for it.

Today's Centre for Disease Control Newsletter ( April 27th, 2009 )below:

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/antiviral_swine.htm

I'm sure it will be over with by then.  Nice to see you, Babs.  Lovely avatar too.

Dont worry Bab's I am sure it will be over by than to, I think it is always good to be catious but sometimes the media likes to freak ppl out;-))

 I like your avatar to is that a owl??

The media is reporting Centre For Disease bulletins and World Health Organisation data and protocols.

http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/masks.htm?s_cid=tw_epr_76

The WHO raised the alert level to Phase 4, meaning there is sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus causing outbreaks in at least one country.

Its alert system was revised after bird flu in Asia began to spread in 2004, and Monday was the first time it was raised above Phase 3.

"At this time, containment is not a feasible option," as the virus has already spread to several other countries, said WHO Assistant Director-General Keiji Fukuda.

Putting an alert at Phases 4 or 5 signals that the virus is becoming increasingly adept at spreading among humans. That move could lead governments to set trade, travel and other restrictions aimed at limiting the disease's spread.

Hi Anna:  I also heard on the news that the pharmacies are out of Tamiflu, esp. in the New York metro area.  Why does that not surprise me?