Pandemics are caused by infected folk infecting others and through simple lack of proper hygiene. A sneeze leaves the nostrils at over a hundred miles an hour! And the droplets can spread over thirty metres.

We can buy cough and sneeze suppressing medications over the counter so as to continue to go to school, work, play or recreational activities. Yet nowhere in Australia is the wearing of surgical masks practised by the community and sometimes in an operating theatre, none or with the nose uncovered.

In no way is the Australian community prepared. Nor indeed most of the rest of the world who value working while sick far more highly than general community health and massively counterproductive!

If those sick were compelled to stay home until no longer contagious, There'd be far fewer work days lost.even more so if folk were taught (quaint and old fashioned) basic hygiene as applicable to contaminated bed linen and attire.

Mattresses, for example, should spend a day in full sunlight. Bedlinen and personal attire should be boiled then sun-dried. And rooms should be steam cleaned floors windows and walls along with any items of furniture and bric-a-brac.
Alan B.

These authors should try harder. It is known that flu virus continually mutates which is why some strains attack different age groups. The 1919 version so overwhelmed the body that it proved fatal to the most able bodied with the strongest reaction to the virus. That's also the reason the first wave was milder, because it was but it then went back into the vector of pigs and came out slightly altered but far more deadly!
These things are being continually monitored but Alan B there is probably as much to be said against our hygiene practices as for them. We need to be tested daily for our natural defence to work especially children. Rather than putting them in cotton wool. Yes old people will be killed but as I am 71 I think I have skin in that particular game. I intend to live forever, so far, so good!

Nay. Nothing that a liquid Thorium injection won't cure today.

Aye?

Plantagenent I do not think you are approaching this in the true spirit of OLO!

Ever since over-doing hygiene, peoples' immunity has deteriorated. Particularly those living in the ultra hygienic environments of city apartments & offices, are very susceptible to the slightest exposure of the more natural environs. Up here in the North it's the locals who cop all the latest deceases when the public servants return from xmas holidays. In return, the newcomers get the usual symptoms of sores & ulcers from simple sandfly or Mozzie bytes.

Oh JBowyer

Have you not heard that, with a few elementary steps, Thorium can power all cars, towns, cities and pets in Australia?

I agree individual.

Kids are becoming wrapped in antiseptic/disinfectant spray cotton wool, to mix metaphors.

There are increasing ads on TV claiming new sprays round the home will kill 99.9% of germs. But there are billions of germs in the remaining 0.1% and new germs constantly recirculate.

Its getting so bad that some Mums bring a bottle of xxxx whenever they and their kids venture outside the house.

New Mums worry:

"I don't trust that anyone is properly detail-cleaning anything in public spaces. Maybe they might wipe down a shopping cart once a week, but are they properly disinfecting it?"

"It's the holy grail - disinfecting means that viruses and bacteria are 99.9% dead and gone. Our babies need us to disinfect their toys - and every shopping cart handle."

Where does it stop? The kids will become allergic to everything.

Humans lived OK for the 100,000 years before disinfectant sprays.

Plantagenet - Thorium spray anyone?
I worked for a very large Australian Food Company. The technical director was always saying how making food sterile would bite us in the bottom in the long run. We all need a bit of infection, a few billion germs and faecal matter to keep our immune system nice.
I know it kills old people but as a 71 year old I am up to the challenge, until I am not lol!

Deeerrr JBowyer

Methinks you intentionally misunderstood.

My whole point, in the 5:12:59 PM comment, is that antiseptic/disinfectant spray is RUBBISH

which makes kids more allergic to things.

Cheers

Plantaganent one tear drop in a bucket of water will kill 99.9% of all germs.
The big companies are selling comfort and a lovely scent not hygene.
I am not as dumb as I look although.....

disinfecting means that viruses and bacteria are 99.9% dead and gone.
plantagenet,
Yes & all these sanitising chemicals are washed down the sink & into the waterways where they kill aquatic life. Ah, our so highly intelligent scientists & chemists etc solve our problems by creating three new ones each time.
Now the cotton wool brigade is not only wrapping the bodies but the mind as well. The results are already out there for everyone to see.

Come to think of it, all this ultra hygiene seems to reflect a deadening of logic & common sense.
Has anyone noticed how insipid many of these highly educated inner city sterile high rise dwellers are becoming ? Could sterile & removed from reality living end up in a sterile & removed from reality mind ? Looking at hot from the outside it certainly appears that way !

This thread not frivolous enough to comment on ?

The newest decease, Stupidity via indoctrination education has reached pandemic status.

Hey individual,

"This thread not frivolous enough to comment on ?"

- Everyone's busy right now sterilising their minds with Pine O Clean and Domestos

(From this OLO article)
"Both the WHO and the CDC believe that we are overdue for another pandemic of influenza and that it is just a matter of time."

- Well when everyone has casual jobs;
Thus going to work sick, and sending the kids to school sick;
What the bloody hell do you expect?

Is this an advertisement for flu shots;
Or an advertisement for how ineffective they are?

"Stupidity via indoctrination education has reached pandemic status."

- Yup.

Is it time to turn on the teachers unions instead of blaming the education system ?
Why don't they take industrial action to change the who cares as long as the votes go to Labor culture ?