Bacteria Not Flu Killed Most In 1918
| Mon Aug. 4, 2008 9:39 PM PDT
A new study in Emerging Infectious Diseases concludes that bacteria not influenza killed most people in the 1918 flu epidemic. The lesson: stock up on antibiotics for the next flu pandemic—bird flu, horse flu, or otherwise.
New Scientist reports that researchers sifted through first-hand accounts, medical records, and infection patterns from 1918 and 1919.
They found that bacterial pneumonia piggybacked on surprisingly mild flu cases. And the victims didn't die fast. A supervirus would have likely killed them in three days.
Instead, most people lasted more than a week and some survived two weeks—classic hallmarks of pneumonia.
Most compelling: medical experts of the day identified pneumonia as the cause of most of the 100 million deaths—the most lethal natural event in recent human history.
Other research suggests the brutal mechanism. Influenza killed cells in the respiratory tract, which became food and home for invading bacteria that overwhelmed overstressed immune systems.
Ten years later, penicillin overpowered bacteria in subsequent influenza epidemics. But nowadays we're having those nagging antibiotic problems.
So health authorities are increasingly interested in the role bacteria will likely play in the next pandemic. Yet little action has been taken. "They are just starting to get to the recognition stage," says Jonathan McCullers, infectious disease expert. "There's this collective amnesia about 1918."
Julia Whitty is Mother Jones' environmental correspondent, lecturer, and 2008 winner of the Kiriyama Prize and the John Burroughs Medal Award.
Continues Below
Continued From Above
Comments
http://www.brojon.org/frontpage/murdermedicine1.html
i think you'll find this of interest; you're correct - it wasn't the "flu".
Submitted by Gary L Green (not verified) on Wed Aug. 6, 2008 6:08 PM PDT.
The 1918 flu will NOT be happening again. It was the conditions that made it spread, not the bug which, yes, was virulent. People were packed together like in the picture shown in this blog. If you make it easy for a bug to spread it will become more virulent. If it's harder to spread it becomes less. The 1918 pandemic hasn't been forgotten by the drug manufacturers and is constantly being paraded before the government to sell hundreds of millions of dollars of their antibiotics. 1918 forgotten? Where did you come up with that? Read books by Paul Ewald if you want to understand about plagues and pandemics and the relationship between host and pathogen.
Since it is the Pnumonia that Kills, Folks need to get their Pnumonia Shots up to date. However today's Pnumonia Vacine protects only against the 26 most common of 105 most common
types of bacteria that cause
Pnumonia. So Folks must Insist that our Corrupt Washington Government Officials develop additional vacines until all 105 types are covered, and then until all known types of Pnumonia Causing Bacteria are covered. If they do not die of something else first, everyone alive is ultimately going to die of Pnumonia, from Bacteria living in the back of their throat, Right Now. So never swallow, until you are sitting up; and never swallow until you have spit out all the Phlem in the back of your throat. Wash out your mouth with water, preferably salt water, before you swallow. Swallow a sip of Vinegar first, then water or carbonated (Setzer) water.
People in 1918 defined themselves as "sick," and swallowed from a reclining position. How you will eventually die; you will Aspirate, as you swallow. Aspirate means that you will take some of what you swallow into your lungs; the germs in the back of your throat will then generate pnumonia; that is how you will die. Aspiration is what you must avoid; to keep on living! Also you will have to wear a mask which also covers your eyes, or full face helmet with a filtered air intake if you wish to avoid the flu. The eyes are an extension of your brain itself, and the most vulnerable part of your body. Avoid Crowds, such as team, and other sports events as much as possible; wash your hands and face as soon as you get home, and go back and spray alcohol on the doorknob, and everything else in the household that people handle. I keep 32oz bottles of CVS 91% alcohol, and keep a sprayer in the one open. Never touch your face away from home; until you have came home and washed your hands then your face. Practice these things, Before any epidemics arrive. Children are the ones most vulnerable; so you must teach them yourself, these things. The entire family should take courses in Biology, and be current on it. Consult some good medical personnel about a personal protection plan and habits to institute. Learn First Aid; even study Nursing and Nurse's Aides. There are plenty of jobs in Nursing and Accounting. Every Child should take bookkeeping early on in School. US Medicaid/Medicare
is the World's most efficient
Government Payee Health Care System; Insist that the Politicians make it Universal. Al Al Qaeda will launch Biological Warfare against the US as soon as they are able, so the US must have Universal Medicaid/Medicare to defend its population. In Ancient Israel, Tithes were to keep the poor from freezing and starving; had modern medicine existed them they would have had Universal Medicaid/Medicare also. See Barbara Oakley's new book, "Evil Genes," to understand the motivation of Rich Conservatives, who oppose Universal Government Payee Health Care, and many other things.
Xeno, "Swallow a sip of Vinegar first, then water or carbonated (Setzer) water." Instead of the Vinegar, why not try wine. Wine is an ancient remedy for all that ails us. In south Florida, Alcohol is used for much medicinal reasons. Also the young babes, will bring a smile to an old man's face. Wine, women, and song. Lighten up Xeno.
