Its been out of the news for a while, but it seems we're not quite done with Bird Flu. The HN51 strain, the strain we're most-concerned with because of its ability to infect both birds and humans, was found in Indonesia, bringing their toll to 112 deaths related to this illness. In June of this year, a new "H7" strain has also been identified. This is believed to be a mutated strain that can easily cross over to infect humans.
Its been out of the news for a while and many had assumed the threat had come and gone - this is clearly not the case.
As a consultant, I've been asked about pandemic preparedness steps for some local government managers. Below are some helpful tips you can use for your home or office:
1 - Maintain your health.
- Proper diet and exercise. A healthy body, armed with all the vitamins, minerals and enzymes necessary for life, is better at defending itself.
- Drink plenty of clean, pure water. Drinking about 1/2 ounce of water per pound is the recommended amount to maintain healthy hydration. eg. a 150 pound person should drink 75 ounces of water. -That's about 2.5 Litres a day, or ten 8-ounce glasses. Water plays a vital role in a healthy immune system. We recommend reverse osmosis water to ensure a clean, pure and almost unlimited source. Achieving and maintaining proper hydration using bottled water can be a costly and time-consuming approach. Having your own water treatment system allows you constant access to as much water as you could possibly need. Get yourself an inexpensive, re-usable, BPA-free water bottle and keep it filled and with you all the time. Drinking water continuously throughout the day becomes an easy habit, helps stem off hunger and has so many health benefits, it would take hours to read about them all. This is an easy and cost-effective way to improve your overall health and your immune system.
- Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water. Research shows that this is all that is required. Antibacterial soaps can come with their own set of problems and haven't been shown to help prevent infection any better than plain old soap and water.
- Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze - then wash your hands! Your mother taught you when you were little, and she was right! Not only is it rude to do anything less, it can definitely spread germs.
- Stay away from others as much as possible if you are sick. "Presenteeism" is a new term that has been used to describe the "superhero type" who refuses to take a day off when sick. Typically, these people are trying to do what they think is responsible, but in reality, they're often working at a significantly-reduced capacity, as well as potentially infecting an office full of their peers and co-workers. Offices should encourage sick workers to stay home!
- Talk with your local health care providers. They can supply information regarding identifying signs of sicknesses and outbreak.
- Implement "Active" air purification systems. These systems, as opposed to "passive" or filter-based systems do not require air to be brought to the purifier to be treated. They use technology to send 'scrubbers' out to clean the air and surface, sanitizing against germs - including the Bird Flu! They also help control odours and keep the air clear of dust, mold spores, pollen and other airborne pollution that can aggravate allergies.
Greg Douglas, owner of Douglas Environmental Solutions
(www.douglasenviro.ca) is an Indoor Environmental Specialist, certified by NORMI and an active member of the Water Quality Association (www.wqa.org)
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