Flu Pandemic

I confess that I did not read this in its entirety, but here is a less worrisome point of view:
http://slate.msn.com/id/2126233/

When those anthrax mail attacks and such were happening, I was glad to have Cipro samples tucked away in my medicine bin. (We had them before all that happened).

With the huge number of displaced families from Katrina, the lack of sanitation in the Gulf from the hurricanes, and the emotional distesss that can weaken immune systems we sure have a breeding ground for an epidemic.

[Sheherezade]

I'm all for personal stockpiling - although I have yet to bring that up with DH.

I'd love to have Cipro and Tamiflu on hand. We have a first aid kit worthy of a surgeon, but not a pharmacist. We need more drugs.

I went back and skimmed that article -- I think it was written before Katrina. I don't know if we would have WWI close quarters conditions, but I agree Tracy that the evacuee situations get to be pretty close quarters.

There has to be some perk to all this training right? I don't think it is too outrageous to have some Tamiflu on hand, especially given that a lot of our spouses are in and out of the hospital quite a bit and have been known to bring illnesses home.

[DCJenn]

I can't even get my husband to remember to fill the Ibuprofin prescription, and after my Mommies Night Out last night, I truly need some!

We have all kinds of good sedatives though- enough to get some REAL good sleep. Nothing that could actually do any good in case of actual illness though.

Jenn

Back in the day of not having to sign out all the samples, a family practice clinic let DH take a nice variety pack. Between that, leftovers from the international travel clinic (so long ago it's probably all expired ), and a nice assortment of suturing equipment, we've got some good choices. But no Tamiflu -- and no thermometer.

Thats it. I am NOT reading another thing in my ILs bookcase. Skimmed a book about the 1918 Flu, and read The Children's Blizzard.

Now I am worried about freezing to death on the prairie while running a fever from the flu.