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One Flu Over The PigBird
[edited to correct things]
by adg on Wed Apr 29, 2009 1:57 pm
The last leg on 'The Lost World Tour' is about to get underway. Meanwhile, my bike is coming out of the shop and the weather is about as good as it gets. Not even pigbird flu can stop me from rolling around the hills of Western Massachusetts. I hope I get a few days in of visiting friends and family in the area. I'm not the least concerned or falling victim to the hype and outrageous assertions being made by the media concerning pigbird flu.
If, however you are not like me, and are concerned, there are a few things to consider. Pigbird flu is not something that seems to be able to develop in the wild. With strains of swine flu and bird flu in the latest variation, it seems almost certain to me that this is a man-made variety. This new version has never ever been seen in pigs, birds or people before. That alone would not make it any less dangerous. It just points to someone playing with 'military chemistry' again.
The thing that does concern me is that most people will fall for the Tamiflu solution which by most reports I've seen is far more dangerous than the pigbird flu itself. I'm taking this very seriously, that's why I posted this. I could stand to be corrected on much of what I write... I usually am. I was probably wrong to call Tamiflu a vaccine for example. But, having said that, it doesn't make it any less dangerous. My docs are telling me that Tamiflu lowers your body temperature, like aspirin and motrin, allowing viruses to grow more rapidly. You get temporary relief, then the infection is often worse with viral pneumonia.
My bet is that most people who have died as a result of this latest episode will have died from complications related to flu - viral pneumonia.
I don't have the flu. I'm fine
Finally, there's no evidence to suggest that Tamiflu will actually protect you from getting this never-seen-before version of the flu! At best, it may shorten the time you have to deal with flu by about a day. A person who has taken Tamiflu may also get a second infection when they come into contact with someone with the actual pigbird flu, and this could be a very dangerous event.
If you are nervous or concerned about this stuff, read what you can, do your own research and don't believe everything you hear (even from me). But for heaven's sake, know what it is you're inviting by getting flu shots. Don't be fooled into doing something that could leave you seriously paralyzed, dead or both. We need everyone we got around here.
Lots of love - Ride well...
adg
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