Ditto your post!
And there is a need for a robust, rapid molecular test! Sadly, most of the innovations in that field that had worked on Covid tests went out of business because of lack of funding.
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Saw some masks on sale today and noticed they had an expiration date in March. Iād assumed masks would be good indefinitely but apparently not. Have quite a few left from previous years but when I checked weāre past the expiration date. Does any one think this matters much - Iām a bit puzzled by it and reluctant to rush out and buy new ones.
Iām also remembering the thread from Jan 2020 - turned out it was prescient.
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I donāt understand what mechanism would make masks āgo badā if they still have their straps intact (rubber hasnāt failed/snapped). Slightly adjacent, I just learned today that in October, the pneumonia vaccine rec age was lowered to 50 (!) so I made my appt for this afternoon. Apparently part of the problem for all these diseases is the confluence of the sick season all at once.
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Itās also a good time to make sure your covid booster is up to date. Iām a bit concerned whether insurance will cover boosters next year.
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Iām not really concerned. It seems to be dying down. Eggs are coming back in stock at Samās Club.
Good for you (not being sarcastic). Perhaps this thread isnāt the place for you going forward, since presumably you arenāt concerned about the topic?
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It asks if anyone is concerned about H5N1 in the topic thread. My answer was no. How is that off topic?
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Itās not, which is why I said āgoing forwardā. I really donāt want this threadcto devolve into a debate between those who are concerned and those who say they shouldnāt be. I orobably jumped the gun.
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I am concerned. Despite all of my vaccinations, I had a nasty case of Covid in May 2022 which went into pneumonia. Have had all vaccās (Covid/flu/pneumo) have masks, and lots of food on hand.
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This website is where I first learned covid 19 was on the way, months before most people realized it. Iām feeling deja vu, so yes, Iām concerned and paying attention.
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I just found out that bird flu was detected yesterday among the flock of chickens at the farm/park we visited with GD 3 days ago. We were bundled up, outside only, didnāt touch the chickens - no close contact, but so scary to think that we could have been exposed.
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There is a stockpile of H5N1 vaccine from previous years when H5N1 was a concern, although the number of doses is only a tiny fraction of the US population, and they target variants from years ago. Making new vaccines is theoretically similar to making vaccines for the seasonal (H1N1, H3N2, B) viruses, but the usual egg-based vaccines take months to grow, and do not generate very long lasting immune response (the long lead time can also mean that if the virus mutates during the months waiting for the vaccine to be made, the vaccine may be less effective). Some companies are in early trials of an mRNA flu vaccine, which could be produced more quickly. But anti-vaccine sentiment tends to result in unwillingness to get flu and mRNA vaccines.
In the US now, you can get a rapid antigen test for COVID-19, flu A, and flu B all in one. In Europe, there are similar combo tests that also have RSV, and cost less than those in the US (seems like anything health care related costs less outside the US). The flu A part of these tests does detect H5N1 as well as H1N1 and H3N2 seasonal viruses, but does not distinguish between them.
Of course, if mass testing becomes necessary due to significant periods of presymptomatic or asymptomatic contagiousness (a big problem with COVID-19 during the pre-vaccine era, but much less of a problem with seasonal flu), then providing everyone with a rapid antigen test per day to use before going to indoor public spaces would be necessary to avoid needing heavier-handed precautionary isolation and quarantine that was done in 2020 for COVID-19. While PCR testing was more accurate for diagnostic purposes, the 2-3 day wait for results made PCR testing useless for precautionary testing.
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We would need rapid testing, also, because antivirals must be started within 48 hours of symptom onset to be effective.
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Not concerned.
Iāll join @coolguy40 on a different thread.
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I honestly am concerned because anything that may lessen the food supply and cause people to get very ill is concerning to me. I have masks and didnāt notice any expiration date. We have enough masks to last āa while.ā We buy them when we start getting low because we have finite storage space. I donāt have many gloves but never used many for covid and donāt expect to use many going forward. I have some alcohol and some bleach, as well as enough toilet paper for maybe a month or a few months.
I have had all recommended shots and have combos test kits for COVID, flu A/B, RSV, plus Enovid nasal spray. I think H and I will weather whatever happens. We have the ability to open our doors & windows and go outdoors as much as desired as well.
We handled COVID pretty well, so are pretty sure we can manage whatever is thrown our way for future pandemics/epidemics.
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I am concerned only because we - the US - was taking a ādonāt ask donāt tellā approach. YLE (your local epidemiologist) was raising the flag about this months ago. Apparently we learned nothing from the COVID āprocessāā¦
Looks like Finland is ahead of the curve.
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Yay to Finland! Letās jump in and join the crowd to protect those at highest risk!
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When Costco doesnāt have any eggsā¦ yes, Iām concerned.
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The playground/farm I mentioned has had to euthanize more than 100 birds and will keep visitors away from the chicken coop and bird area (pond behind chain link fence) until spring. So sad ā¦ we got to āknowā several of the chickens over the years, as well as a few of the geese with big personalities (and distinguishing features). Fortunately, the employee who exhibited H5N1 symptoms is doing fine.
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