Swine Flu

Maria · Swine Flu

255 reported in the UK so far.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/8021547.stm

Should we be worried yet? Time to start boosting the immune system?

lachlanandmarcus

ironically the most useful thing I came away from my banking career with was a supply of Tamiflu !!! did business travel to Hong Kong when bird flu scare was at its height....hopefully wont need it tho.

I think it is creeping up to be an issue this winter, although in the absence of other health issues it will probably not be as bad.

IainC

I think the real threat of it is if it mutates at all, I think that's what they are really worried about, as then a stronger variant of it would spread quickly (like this one) but have more serious consequences.

I think in most cases, if you are reasonably healthy, then this (and other colds/flus) shouldn't affect you anywhere near as badly as someone who already has breathing problems, etc.

Lord_Azrael

If it was an outbreak of Bubonic Plague again, then I'd be worried.

To be honest the fact that the whole country was sent a multi page leaflet in a variety of languages and therefore destroying countless more trees was more worrying to me.

nina

baldowrie

Yes they were overly concerned with the 1918 Spanish flu either, during the summer out break.

The winter came and they regretted their complacency!

This strain is a new strain and there is currently no vaccine available, hopefully by the winter there will be.

It is the fit and the healthy this strain apparently attack first, who then pass it on to the less healthy. That's what the concern is, the spread to the those who are are vulnerable. So no I don't think the leaflet was scaremongering, it was much needed information so the wider community is prepared for what is likely to come.

Or do I have this wrong and this is more a case of I'm alright Jack?

lachlanandmarcus

I didnt get any leaflet, we obviously dont exist!!

Sassinak

I didn't get one either. Maybe we are just considered too healthy to need it in the countyside lol

Maria

Been reading my new Green Pharmacy book (thanks for draggin me in the Portsoy shop David!! Such a fab place) I'll be boosting our immune systems over the winter...in the hope that it passes us by. Yep, it's a bit 'I'm alright Jack' but some of the preventative immune boosters are free, or at little costs. Beats queuing up for a vaccine that may or may not work and lines the pockets of the Pharma.

kimmie

leaflet....what leaflet?

Smooth Hound

i didnt get one,

how will i know what to do, how will i know about things like washing my hands without this leaflet.

Maria

Should we be worried now??

http://news.uk.msn.com/special-reports/swine-flu.aspx
Plenty of onions, garlic, chilli me thinks - and remembering to take the echinacea. I'm trying to grow it - but it's proving more difficult than my poxy gardening skills can manage.

earthroots

echinacea is fairly cheap to buy now in concentrated drops from the local chemists - boosting our immune system with healthy diets and the plethora of herbal teas available for free harvest in the wilderness around us - garlic for sure and all herbal tonics - red clover, meadowsweet, elderflower, yarrow, burdock, dandelion, coltsfoot, nettle. Stock up on berries this autumn too - fill your freezer with blaeberries, rasps, brambles, elderberries and cowberries for strengthening winter smoothies. All too often the answer to modern ailments is staring us in the face - it's just unfortunate that we've had such a break in the ancestral memory - kitchen wisdom lost in time or hijacked by company advertisers who rub their hands together in glee when such epidemics as the swine flu hits the headlines.

Maria

Have been drinking my very first elderflower cordial for the last couple of days, and it's loverly. Yummmm.

nina

I don't think we need to be overly concerned at the moment.Every year many thousands of people die from flu despite vaccination with hardly a mention.I think the media are creating unnecessary worry with sensationising their coverage.Why can't they just call it Mexico flu?The time to worry will be if it mutates into a more virulent strain because at the moment deaths have been minimal and in people whose health was already compromised.

My advice?Enjoy the summer,keep as healthy as you can and if you get flu, pamper yourself for a few days until you recover-just like you did last time you got flu.

Please don't think I'm being flippant about this.I am a"vulnerable person"due to health problems.And if I get it-well I'll cross that bridge if I come to it.

earthroots

grand - i love the stuff - meadowsweet makes a delish syrup too - you can add fizzy water to it for a lovely late summer drink. Yet to collect elderflowers this year - hoping there is still some left - other busyness just keeps getting in the way - but no work for a fortnight starting this weekend - yipee!

lor138

I got 3 leaflets in the same day, maybe i got one of the other neepsters leaflets thrown in!!!

Maria

I know what you mean Nina. I'm boosting our systems, not for this strain o f flu but for all the 'nasties' that it might mutate into. Every year a virus comes and bites us during midmiwinter...as it should...probably to slow us down when we should be hibernating-ish. I'm musing that if i boost our immune systems, we'll cuddle up for the few usual days, and not be kicked too much by any strains.

So....

Time for me to find out what meadowsweet is - sounds scrummy. What do i do with it? Stupid questions i bet.

Maria

Oh, forgot to mention earthroots - you're sure to still get your hands on some elderflower - it's bursting out everywhere just now. I'm going to get another batch next week, A Fine Malt wants to try some wine. He tasted AndyB's at the last meet and is keen to have a few bottles.

Julie

That leaflet was a waste of paper and the gist of it went; Blow your nose and throw the tissue in the bin, then wash your hands. Cover your mouth with your hand or tissue when you sneeze or cough.
What rot!
Every time you sneeze you fill an area the size of the Albert hall with the bacteria carried in droplets of water. To suggest that covering your mouth when you cough or doing it into a handkerchief is going to prevent the spread of a virus is ludicrous.
Imo, it was an exercise to allay the fears of the ill informed masses and prevent an over reaction from the bulk of them.

nina

Last winter OH and I spent 6 wonderful weeks in Spain and Portugal arriving back in Liverpool on 23rd Dec.We picked up my very fit 92 year old Mum and drove up to Peterhead on 24th.When we got home we found Andy and Kerry quite ill with cough,sore throat and all the other symptoms of a nasty virus.By Boxing day we were all really ill.I was worried sick about my Mum.The cough was relentless-day and night- and went on for over 2 weeksbefore any signs of any improvement.Full recovery took about 6 weeks+.

This was not flu but some other really severe viral infection.Believe me,I would have happily swapped this for a dose of flu.

earthroots

meadowsweet is an amazing plant - try these links:

http://www.floralimages.co.uk/pfilipulmar.htm - for a picture and:

http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Filipendula+ulmaria - for info

we've been making meadowsweet syrup for years from this recipe taken from the Mother and Child Herbal by Anne McIntyre - use it by the spoonful when the kids are unwell or add fizzy water for a sweet summer drink - also been known to drizzle it over ice cream:

Put 20 flowering heads of meadowsweet, removed from stems ( a fork is good for this) in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring to boil, cover and simmer for 10 mins. Strain. Add 4 tablespoons of lemon juice. Measure the liquid. For each one and half pints (900ml) of liquid add 1 lb (500g) of raw sugar. Heat gradually until the sugar has dissolved. Boil for 5 minutes. Skim. Leave to cool. Store in dark bottles with screw-on caps or corks.

Julie

An infusion of Thyme is also good for a sore throat, but I suspect the meadowsweet syrup might taste nicer

Maria

Not confident enough to gather meadowsweet, really need to do some more study - scared silly I'll gather hemlock

. I'm still a bit dithery with herbs...i'm getting used to growing and using some when cooking, which is the easy bit as they make things taste grand...but haven't got used to storing or using them in other ways yet. I've tried infusing for tea (really like lemon balm - and other mints) and now elder cordial, but not much else. I haven't really foraged for ingredients either. I have heaps to learn...and want to know it all, right now! Can you tell I'm an impatient sort.

Must remember to ask peppercat when she's having another herbal walk.

Oh, meant to ask - what's the difference between 'viral' and 'flu'?

andybebbington

flu is a type of viral infection (virus)