Code2High
Ridgecrest, CA
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Joined: 12/21/2004
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If you want to discuss swine flu vaccine issues and how you feel about them, there's a thread on ATC devoted to that. This is not that thread, and prisoners getting vaccines before you do is not really relevant to the Pet Stop, nor is how you feel about any plans for health care reform or coverage that might be in the political arena right now.
But just to put things in perspective, as of the beginning of October, 28 pregnant women in this country had died from H1N1. During the time swine flu has been around, if history is any guide, more pregnant women in this country will have been murdered by their husbands/boyfriends. Are you going to sit around and imagine that? Just something to think about when you're deciding whether or not to freak out and suppress your immune system (already challenged if you're pregnant) by focusing on the "we're all gonna die" mentality that so many seem to be indulging in.
One supposes that if swine can get it, it wouldn't be such a stretch for other animals to get it. I've certainly seen a virus go from cats to dogs in a household. Good reason to pay particular attention to hygiene, wash your hands when you come in the house/before you handle your animals, and if you're sick maybe be a little more careful than usual about dripping germs around the dog. Also remember that good food, regular exercise (relieves stress, among other things) and probiotics are important to your immune function and that of your pets.
* This post was
edited 11/05/09 12:16pm by Code2High *
susan
Can you say... "Finally a FALL day!"???
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lasparrot
Russell, just outside Ottawa, Canada's Capital
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Joined: 11/08/2006
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Off topic I know, but can you say "media hype"? See http://www.cmaj.ca/cgi/content/full/168/6/761-a for estimates of flu deaths annually in Canada and the US. US estimated average is 36,000 deaths/year from influenza-related complications.
BTW - this article is dated 2003 - years before H1N1 ...
From cancer.org - There are about 443,600 smoking related deaths in the US each year...
From another statistics site - About 115 people die every day in vehicle crashes in the United States -- one death every 13 minutes.
Just think of all the fun reporting doom and gloom the media has been missing all these years!
I wonder if we should invest as much money in teaching people how to drive and keeping impared drivers off the roads as we do in immunization programs?
In the meantime, get enough sleep, eat well (lots of fruit and veggies), gargle 2x per day, wash your hands often, excercise moderately and you'll increase your chances of avoiding the worst!
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hitchup
Fulltiming in Mount Airy.
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Joined: 02/17/2005
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There is no vaccine for animals. I just heard the cat story this am.
Some of our kids and/or extended family already had the H1N1 go through their house in Georgia. Not all went to Dr, but those that did tested positive. Those that got tamiflu had fairly mild case. Our son just had a couple of days of feeling bad, his nearly 4 year old daughter was bouncing off the walls the 2nd day after the tamiflu dose.
2009 DRV Mobile Suite 38TKSB3....our custom home
2008 Ford F450 Lariat CC 4x4......his office
Working Fulltimers since 3/2005
"Shoot for the Moon! Even if you miss it, you will land among the Stars."
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CA POPPY
Santa Clarita, CA, USA
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Joined: 07/07/2003
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Also, guinea pigs, rats and hamsters can catch human viruses, that's one reason they are used in medical labs. Many a small pet has bit the dust because the human feeding and playing with him had the flu. I don't know if that's also true for rabbits, but it would stand to reason it might be. If anybody in the family is sick, have a non-sickie feed the critters and keep their cage away in a room where nobody is coughing, etc.
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Ductape
On the Road
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Joined: 11/15/2005
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IMO this would more accurately be the Sheep Flu.
Press drums up a hysteria about a routine seasonal event, the pols get involved, and the sheep go a-running.
Surveyor SV-234
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