ASK THE DOCTOR: Don’t panic over risk of avian flu
By Dr. JIM MITTERANDO
For The Patriot LedgerQ. I am worried about the spread of avian flu. Are we in danger?
A. Reports on avian - bird - flu have become alarmist as the virus spreads from birds in Asia to Europe. This virus, though, has not infected any Europeans.
We are in no immediate danger of avian flu. There is a chance for this viral infection to mutate and become contagious to humans. Fortunately, governments are increasing efforts to prevent a potential pandemic.
The avian flu - called H5N1- is a deadly influenza virus rarely transmitted from birds to humans.
The risk the disease poses to people remains uncertain but is frightening. The virus attacks the lungs, causing fluid to build up and could kill. The rare cases of human avian flu infection have been limited to people who handle infected poultry. No one is sure whether the virus will ever mutate into a disease that can spread easily from person to person. If it did, this new flu strain could kill hundreds of thousands.
What you can do
The tragic events of Hurricane Katrina and Sept. 1, 2001, have forced disaster planning into the limelight. Preparation for an avian flu outbreak is no different.
Purchase some masks and gloves, since they are likely to sell out during an emergency.
Also, if you do get sick between now and if and when there is an outbreak, avoid taking an antiviral drug, unless you are at high risk for flu-related complications and cannot be vaccinated. The frequent use of these drugs leads to resistant viruses just like bacteria become resistant to antibiotics from overuse.
If there is an outbreak
- Avoid public places.
- Wash your hands frequently
- Quarantine sick people to avoid spread to others
- If ill, wear a mask and wash your hands to reduce spreading illness
- If well, consider wearing a mask when in public
- Avoid doctor’s offices and emergency rooms unless very ill as exposure to avian flu is more likely in these places
- Monitor local news, local hospital web sites and the Mass. Dept. of Public Health at mass.gov/dph
- Do not call your doctor or hospital with basic questions since they will be overwhelmed addressing the most critically ill
Dr. Jim Mitterando is a family doctor at Cohasset Family Practice and a staff member at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth.
Readers should send questions to: Ask the Doctor, The Patriot Ledger, P.O. Box 699159, Quincy, MA 02269-9159, or by E-mail to his attention at features@ledger.com.
Questions of general interest will be answered in this column. The information in this column is not intended to diagnose individual conditions, and individual replies are not possible. Readers should see their own doctors about specific problems.
Copyright 2005 The Patriot Ledger
Transmitted Tuesday, November 15, 2005