Swine Flu

[inholms]

Well, that will teach me not to guess! Excellent points you raise, and I don't have an answer.

"Fortunately, summer is approaching and the sun will be generating more vitamin D in people as the UV-B light rays get absorbed by our skin. I expect this epidemic will be short lived, pray for a heat wave as it may be the best medicine. I recommend at least 2,000 IU daily of a vitamin D supplement also for possible prevention".

Sorry me again!

I thought that an excess of vitamins were quickly excreted by the body and that taking extra vitamins was only a good idea if you had a deficiency to that particular vitamin. A dose of 2000 units seems very high. Would such a regime be of any benefit? and I wonder if this would be any use to anyone with their full complement of vitamins.

Sorry another question;

The labs are working flat out to make a vaccine based on the current strain. If by the time it is ready and the current strain has mutated, will it be any use at all?

[Zoggite]

I thought that an excess of vitamins were quickly excreted by the body and that taking extra vitamins was only a good idea if you had a deficiency to that particular vitamin

Whilst this is true of most vitamins, I don't think it applies to vitamins A, D, E, & K as they are not watersoluble vitamins, and therefore cannot be readily eliminated via urine; They tend to accumulate in fatty tissues, and the risk of overdose of these vitamins is well-known.

[Pharmanaut]

[QUOTE=inholms;32061]

Sorry another question;

The labs are working flat out to make a vaccine based on the current strain. If by the time it is ready and the current strain has mutated, will it be any use at all?

Its virological roulette I'm afraid.
Best thing to do is hope it doesn't.
Though when you think about it the wave of H1N1 will continue until there are no more people to infect.
In a "herd" of people there are likely to be a few with natural immunity.

[Jeff]

I think there is a ring of logic to the vitamin D debate, but I would welcome an independent view.

Vitamin D

I read this a while back

http://www.healthresearchforum.org.u...s/scotland.pdf

Lots about vitamin D - however I ought to point out that it is summer and that vitamin D if it is a factor at all - might be more of a factor in winter.

I must also point out that I am not convinced by the report (OK I was put off by the "famous name does this endorsement" which to me always smacks of quackery - but that could very well be a personal bias)

Tamiflu

There's little evidence of it affecting outcomes - evidence exists of it lessening the duration of the infection by a day if given in the first 48 hours. Couldn't find any evidence of it being effective in any way after 48 hours.

Masks
They protect other people from the wearer of the mask - interfering with the wearers ability to spread droplets. They don't stop anyone touching the door handle.

[Jeff]

[QUOTE=inholms;32061]

The labs are working flat out to make a vaccine based on the current strain. If by the time it is ready and the current strain has mutated, will it be any use at all?

It depends on the mutation - so don't know - the H1 part has been around a long time so I'm guessing at at least partial protection. I seem to remember reading somewhere that even the usual flu vaccines are only 70% effective.

Think it was here

news item - Evidence suggests flu vaccination in the elderly has mixed effectiveness

but it's abstract only - I now longer have free access to the Lancet so if someone with an NHS account would like to confirm/refute my memory

[DavidS]

Sorry me again!

I thought that an excess of vitamins were quickly excreted by the body and that taking extra vitamins was only a good idea if you had a deficiency to that particular vitamin. A dose of 2000 units seems very high. Would such a regime be of any benefit? and I wonder if this would be any use to anyone with their full complement of vitamins.

Vitamin D is fat soluble, and they are not excreted quickly. In fact in rare cases they can build up and cause their own problems.

The standard "Calcium with Ergocalciferol" tabs contain 10microgrammes of Vit D2, equivalent to 400ius. 1000u seems safe daily, so 2000u for shortish bursts should be OK.
ION Institute for Optimum Nutrition - Vitamin D

[inholms]

Vitamin D


Tamiflu

There's little evidence of it affecting outcomes - evidence exists of it lessening the duration of the infection by a day if given in the first 48 hours. Couldn't find any evidence of it being effective in any way after 48 hours.

Masks
They protect other people from the wearer of the mask - interfering with the wearers ability to spread droplets. They don't stop anyone touching the door handle.

Tamiflu,

Governments have made a big thing about using Tamiflu. Are you saying we have been conned?
I was involved with Tamiflu a few years ago during the Avian flu scare. Tamiflu was not well regarded then. I don't undersatnd what has changed as it seems to be a similar virus.

Masks.

Yes quite agree, waste of time for a breather unless you have a fully rated full face mask.

I am the inventor of the self cleaning and hand hygiene monitoring door handles, which never got off the ground- too ahead of their time I suppose, but maybe now there will be a demand.

[Pharmanaut]

Yes quite agree, waste of time for a breather unless you have a fully rated full face mask.

I am the inventor of the self cleaning and hand hygiene monitoring door handles, which never got off the ground- too ahead of their time I suppose, but maybe now there will be a demand.

I you see someone walking around wearing a scuba tank in the height of the epidemic it will be me.

[SolomonQ]

I you see someone walking around wearing a scuba tank in the height of the epidemic it will be me.

make sure you have a HEPA filter fitted to the breathing apparatus :P

[DavidS]

I you see someone walking around wearing a scuba tank in the height of the epidemic it will be me.

Getting out of the water seems like an unnecessary risk to me. What next: birdfish flu?