Is anybody else getting worried about bird flu?

[k1w1]

Ok, so I wasn't here when SARS was "running rampant" through Asia, but I certainly got spooked at home watching my TV and picturing millions dropping like flies...

So what is starting to freak me out is that the media has kind of gone a little quiet on this. Every few days we get a snippet, but not a lot. I am a real worry wart - so puh-lease tell me I'm over-reacting or whatever. No, I mean it.

A couple of kids just died in Indonesia from going to the ZOO. Am I the only one starting to get worried?

[Vaucluse]

I think we're ok with the bird flu here - no aviaries to speak of and where would the migratory birds settle (ok, a few places). I would be more concerned about dengue.

I spent the SARS time here and it was quite amazing what drastic measures the government took to curb it, no doubt they would do the same with the bird flu if it were necessary.

[sapphire]

In the meantime eat chicken and be merry! You think bird flu is a hint to turn vegetarian?

[skye]

I'm certainly concerned and keeping an eye on the news coverage but not panicking. We were here during Sars and frankly, if it does start spreading by human to human contact, this will be the best place to be. People in Singapore will obey the reporting and quarantine rules laid down by the govt 99.99% of the time (or be sent to jail like during Sars), limiting the chance of an epidemic as far as possible. Can't see most of the people back home obeying quarantine orders etc the way they did here. We have become slightly obsessive about hand-washing since Sars which does help to limit spread of viruses.

[k1w1]

In the meantime eat chicken and be merry! You think bird flu is a hint to turn vegetarian?

I've been vegetarian for about ten years now, but yes, I have ordered chicken off the menu for the rest of my family after they found the virus in some frozen duck? chicken? (whatever - a bird) in Japan that had been exported from China.

Anyway, I do feel better so thanks guys. I'm am going to go and check our stocks of mozzie repellent though. Will get back to you 8)

[Vaucluse]

In the meantime eat chicken and be merry! You think bird flu is a hint to turn vegetarian?

Pesco-vegetarian for us . . . all the goodness from the sea! (ok, not talking about quicksilver poisoning ad the like)


Absolutely right, if the bird flu does get worse this is the place to be.


I have been told that the NZ C&I have put out a health watch on this for anyone going to regions infected with bird flu. Panickmongers . . .


Clarke is back in!

[k1w1]

In the meantime eat chicken and be merry! You think bird flu is a hint to turn vegetarian?

Pesco-vegetarian for us . . . all the goodness from the sea! (ok, not talking about quicksilver poisoning ad the like)


Absolutely right, if the bird flu does get worse this is the place to be.


I have been told that the NZ C&I have put out a health watch on this for anyone going to regions infected with bird flu. Panickmongers . . .


Clarke is back in!

Sigh. My in-laws came over a few months back and for some utterly bizarre reason checked the Foreign Affairs (I think) website and Singapore was considered a "high-risk zone" with strong warnings not to travel here, and if it was absolutely necessary avoid chicken at all costs and drown yourself hourly in deet.

They thought it was pathetic and came anyway, but yes, Clarkey likes to keep people hyperventilating, which as you can see, rubs off well on some of her minions Perhaps there's a position for her at FOX...

[ksl]

In the meantime eat chicken and be merry! You think bird flu is a hint to turn vegetarian?

Pesco-vegetarian for us . . . all the goodness from the sea! (ok, not talking about quicksilver poisoning ad the like)


Absolutely right, if the bird flu does get worse this is the place to be.


I have been told that the NZ C&I have put out a health watch on this for anyone going to regions infected with bird flu. Panickmongers . . .


Clarke is back in!

Sigh. My in-laws came over a few months back and for some utterly bizarre reason checked the Foreign Affairs (I think) website and Singapore was considered a "high-risk zone" with strong warnings not to travel here, and if it was absolutely necessary avoid chicken at all costs and drown yourself hourly in deet.

They thought it was pathetic and came anyway, but yes, Clarkey likes to keep people hyperventilating, which as you can see, rubs off well on some of her minions Perhaps there's a position for her at FOX...

Singapore is a high risk Country and everyone should be worried, becuase the neddia have said, it hasn't really broke out yet, when it does, it is estimated to wipe out 1 million people?

And SARS has been traced down to bats, they have been carrying a strain which is 95% the same, they believe the bats infected the civet cats, and that was the bridge or cross over point to humans. Yet to be confirmed. The whole blame, comes back to humans interfering with the environment, because these bats have always carried this virus for hundreds of years, but it couln't infect humans,

Well i guess the world is over populated, something must give sooner or later!

[sundaymorningstaple]

Actually, all the old timer farmers blame it all on putting men on the moon.

[kk_lass]

Hi k1w1, pm u just now too..

Basically i feel that there is no need to be alarm.. But there is a need to be alert.. Esp if u r dealing with the health issues of urself and ur loved ones.. Coz people always think that such stuffs will not happen to them.. which is not true.. I rather be safe than be sorry.. So preventive measures are very impt.. Just like, good and safe planning will minimize the risk significantly..

My recommendation is to do preventive measures.. that is to build up your body immune system.. and keep your surrounding clean..
Coz nowadays it is all abt air-borne diseases.. SARS ..etc And if u notice .. many of them have no cure.. and it all rely on ur immune system. That applies to Dengue Fever too.. That is why some people survived in Dengue Fever, some people died. Some SARS people survived, some unfortunately do not.

Many ways to build up the body immunity system and keep your home clean. Need more tips in the effective measures? PM me ..

[tobester]

I am all new to the expat scene and did unfortunately look at the Home orafice site. it does scare you really, on the whole then would you say Singapore is safer to be in such an outbreak?

re the building up of the immune system any advice on how I can do this for the wife and my 3 yr old?

thanks

[Carpe Diem]

I believe Singapore is safe because the situation would be better controlled than in other places.

For those who were here, just remember how strict the authorities were during the SARS outbreak.

Singapore also offers good quality hospitals with competent doctors. I am talking about quality. Quantity, in case of an epidemic, I don't know.

So I am confident that we are at the right place.

Now, I agree with other posters that we should not panic. Of course a "new" disease (this one is quite old though - remember Hong Kong in 1997) is always a concern.
But so far the transmission from human to human is not clear, at least very difficult.
And to get contaminated from birds you need very close and repeated contact (the virus is not air borne - it is carried in droplets when sneezing and can "travel" for about 1 metre).

Just a reminder that journalists tend to forget when they talk about this
"normal" human flu kills 500,000 to 1 million people every year... and 36,000 in US only.

As for immunity?

You must know that there are 2 types of immunity, innate (native) and acquired.
When you get vaccinated against flu (or if you get sick and recover) you develop immunity against that specific virus (acquired immunity).
Next time you are exposed to that virus, your body will know how to handle it.
The problem with viruses is that they keep mutating, so every "season" a new vaccination is in principle necessary.

In the case of the H5N1 virus (the principal strain of avian flu), if it were to become transmissible from human to human, we all would be potentially vulnerable because our immune system would have no "past memory" This is the scenario in which many people could die.

Unless there is a vaccine available, what you can do at the moment is to reinforce your innate immunity.
By having a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet, exercising, etc...
You can also take vitamins but beware of marketing considerations.
What you can also do is get vaccinated against the "normal flu" because, in case you get infected by both viruses at the same time, this would prevent further mutation of the virus.

[tobester]

talk about accurate ta CD

You touched on the Medical facilities in Singapore, another typical newbie question but are GP's good, easy to find, etc... also are there specific Peadiatricians? what happens when you arrive ?

thanks

tobester

[Carpe Diem]

Where do you come from?

I come from France and I can tell you that I find the medical system much better here.

There are a lot of GPs, and strange when you come from Europe, with different price levels! I use a local one, very efficient, who asks S$ 20 per visit. But you can go to "better" (?) ones and pay much more. Also, there are a few 24-hours clinics (with GPs) where you don't pay much more and service is good.

And in the worst case - sunday afternoon, that's usually when kids decide to be sick - you can go to hospitals.

There are many specialists of any kind and, again, they are quite efficient.

And in Singapore everything is close nearby.

Don't worry too much about that I would say.

[tobester]

Thanks Carpe Diem

I am living in France in a nice southern city but come from the UK and must say your english is excellent, thanks for the useful info, its really useful and helps us newbies out

can you reccomend any nice areas to look at housing ?

ta

Tobester