Pandemic panic

Lancslass1 - I think the pneumonia vaccination is against bacterial pneumonia, not viral so I guess it wouldn't really help. I might call the surgery and ask though, just in case it's a matter of everything that can be useful should be done.

As there is such a shortage of alcohol-based hand sanitisers, would gin work instead? (Plus drinking it, of course, as it's so antiseptic)

A friend of mine did a massive Armageddon Ocado shop yesterday - spent £360. I wouldn't have space in the kitchen to stash that much-worth!

Gwenisgreat1, I too have bronchiectasis and brittle asthma.
I am on prophylactic antiobiotics for life and the highest dose of Relvar Ellipta inhaler to help manage the bronchiectasis, I'm only ever prescribed steroids for the asthma and croup I'm prone to. Since being put on this regime about eight years ago, the frequency of chest infections have dropped dramatically.

Research shows that oral steroids usually have little effect on managing bronchiectasis. Are you on specific medication for the bronchiectasis? If not, is it worth going back to see a different GP?
I hope you get some relief, it's a horrible disease.

I think youve got it sorted Petunia - the alcohol should sort it out

Phone the surgery and ask to see another GP Gwen. Unless there is an extremely good reason, they should prescribe for you the appropriate medication.

I, for one, am worried. I have Bronchiectasis, and have breathing difficulties just now. My GP has refused me the steroid that would rectify it - what chance do I have? I feel like I am a sitting target!!

I was 16 in 1957 .
I don’t remember the Asian flu epidemic at all.
If this new virus is a sort of pneumonia virus would the fact that many old folk have had the pneumonia jab as well as the flu jab help I wonder.

SueDonim unless people who are symptomless are randomly tested no-one will know whether anyone has antibodies.

Sorry on my last post I meant it v was a 98% CURE rate, not death ?

Agree with much of what polnan says, especially the hugging and kissing, and people not knowing the difference between having a cold and having flu.
How often is someone off work a couple of days, then on their return informing you they had flu? Yeah, right.

What I don’t understand is why are we having to be told to wash our hands - surely we should ALWAYS do that anyway. Are people so stupid that they don’t think it’s necessary.
I’ve also been told that panic buying has led to a shortage of soap - what have people be using up until now?

Thank you Jane Ainsworth - very useful. We are just 'socially minimising' (not doing anything optional that involves close contact with people of whom we have little knowledge.) Really just hoping to put it off until there is more knowledge of its course. If I were actually frail I might be happy to get it on the 'old man's friend' basis. - I'd add a plea to us all to think of checkout people and really try not to breathe all over them.

trisher Monday 2 March 14:36:40
I have been wondering the same, whether this virus had escaped earlier than stated but either officials kept quiet or it was not realised that it is a new virus.

The reason it is more serious is that it can suddenly turn to pneumonia, the patient feels as if 'they are drowning'.

There was a virus around at Christmas but, although it was quite nasty, I didn't hear of people being hospitalised with it.

Most people who get this will have mild symptoms. It does not seem to affect children. The death rate of confirm cases is 98%. Many people will have no symptoms so will not have it confirmed. This then makes the death rate even lower from all that are infected. It is a form of the cold virus of which their are already 200 different types. Flu and cold viruses mankind has been fighting forever and there have always be new viruses along the way. I feel the media is making us panic. If it had a 98% death rate and no known way of how humans were being infected ( as when the aids epidemic appeared in the 80's before they found how it was spread and treated) then I'd be panicking ( as I was at the time!). This virus can be killed at normal washing clothes temperatures, can be washed off hands easily, doesn't live long outside the body and in general responds the same way as the common cold. In fact conavirus is another name for a cold. This is just a nastier one than in general. My friends little girl died of normal flu at age 7. This so far does not seem to be affecting children. Therefore I'm not too worried but the media want me to be just as they did with Sars and Swine flu. I'm more likely to die of so many more things this week than that virus so unless I ponder them all I will be better thinking of none. ?

Im wondering if it has been around for a long time as another poster has said. I had the slight cold sore throat them terrible cough with up and down temperature, showing shadow on the lung in December. It lasted almost 2 months and didn't respond to 3 courses of antibiotics and steroids. Then it got better and last x-ray was clear. OH had the same also BIL and sister. Very similar symptoms.

I think the media is winding this up

especially BBC News...
this morning they were regurgitating yesterdays news cos there was no fresh information for today!

wash hands? didn`t we used to do that anyway... problem as I see it that people/society has changed, and not necessarily for the better...

everyone has sex with everyone for starters (of course I exaggerate... see Eastenders? I don`t now, but I have heard it said that Eastenders portrays real life!

I remember I had the flu in 1957. and over the years since people with the so called common cold say they have the flu, I say , when you had the flu you KNOW you had the flu, I was in bed for 2 weeks, and I was in my early 20`s..very early 20`s..

people go around hugging and kissing now, we didn`t do that back in the day, and we washed our hands without being told to do so and how to do so!!

yes, of course, it is to be taken seriously, but come on, I often wonder how this generation would cope if there was another WW... God forbid..

i am wondering, since no hand sanitiser is available, i am using ordinary baby wipes.
i know these do not contain alcohol, so won't kill the virus.
but do we need to actually kill it; sometimes the best is the enemy of the good.
hand washing i believe works by separating and detritus, dust, dirt, sweat etc to which virus might stick, from our hand and washing it away down the drain.
so, in the absence of hand sanitiser or washing facilities when out and about, would it not be useful to carry a pack of baby wipes and frequently wipe hands.
anyone see any objection to this.
i know it's not the ideal, but a pragmatic approach.

I've just been reading up on xylitol as an antibacterial which seems to help with respiratory tract infections. I do have some that I bought when I had a tooth problem but then sealed it away and put it on a high shelf when I realised it was deadly poisonous to dogs. I know antibacterials won't kill a virus but I'm determined to do everything I can to stay healthy. What has been on my mind tonight are the number of people I know that have underlying health problems which include Parkinsons, Huntingdons, cancer [currently undergoing chemo] and, the most worrying of all a little known condition called [I think] LAM which affects the lungs. And I also keep thinking about when my grandchildren have, at various times, had a norovirus and, no matter how careful I was I still seemed to catch it. Can't help but feel that the coronavirus is similar but with a much longer incubation/contagion time.

We have all the ingredients except the vodka. The bottle I thought was vodka is gin.

Sussexborn Vodka is ethyl alcohol which isn’t as effective as isopropyl alcohol, which is what is used in clinical environments and is actually cheaper than vodka. It’s available on Amazon.

Vodka, aloe gel, and essential oils are all you need for this DIY gel. 60% must be alcohol.
...
Plain vodka (a cheap brand is fine!)
Aloe vera gel.
Lavender essential oil.
Tea tree essential oil.
Other essential oils of your choice. Lavender and peppermint also make a great combo, if the scent of tea tree oil is too strong.
Small 1-2 oz bottle.

"At GP this morning I noticed 1 bottle of hand sanitiser at the main desk in our health centre. According to the receptionist, I was on,y one of a few to actually use. Beggars belief!"
...and our surgery now has a touch screen check in. I remember thinking at the time that it wasn't a very good idea, given that many people using it would be sick.

We are already seeing and experiencing the results of their flawed screening protocols- It's not fake news- It's the sad fact that they're not prepared-

Sweeping such facts under the rug, or panicking, won't make them go away-

I imagine people working on tills might be well-advised to use latex gloves?

I really should preview before pressing Post. ☺️