U-M epidemiologist on preventing flu, norovirus in her own home: 'Impossible'
University of Michigan associate professor of epidemiology Allison Aiello has dedicated her career to studying disease transmission.
Using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding she's studied the effectiveness of hand washing and using facial masks among college students to prevent flu-like disease transmission.
And Aiello’s entire family -- her husband and two young children -- have been vaccinated against influenza.
In an ironic twist of fate, there came a point when even the most stringent of procedures couldn't prevent the coughing, sneezing and vomiting from spreading in her own home.
Allison Aiello
Courtesy U-M
It turned out her son had both the flu and norovirus -- and Aiello’s husband became sick with norovirus shortly afterward.
It wasn’t long until Aiello’s daughter contracted the flu and norovirus. Aiello herself was the final member of her family to be impacted, but, as fate would have it, she contracted norovirus as well.
Flu symptoms typically take one to four days to develop after exposure. Symptoms include fever, chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and/or tiredness. Some people may experience vomiting and diarrhea, though those symptoms are more common in children than adults.
One of the main differences between flu and norovirus is the quick onset, as individuals typically develop symptoms in 24 to 48 hours after they're exposed to norovirus.
FLU SEASON
TIPS FOR PARENTS
- Watch the signs: Children with influenza typically have higher fevers, more severe symptoms than the common cold.
- If your child is sick, make sure they’re drinking plenty of fluids. Popsicles work well.
- For children in daycare: Make sure they are immunized early in the season as a prevention measure, and have them change their shirts once they come home. Source: C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital
Both norovirus and the flu are actively in circulation in Washtenaw County this season.
About 80 individuals had been hospitalized with the flu in Washtenaw County between Sept. 30 and Jan. 12, compared with more than 200 hospitalizations across the state this flu season. Four pediatric deaths in Michigan have been attributed to the flu virus this season as well, none of which were of Washtenaw County children.
With norovirus, Aiello said she’s experienced one to two days of vomiting, followed by body aches and a fever.
Before having children, Aiello said she was rarely sick. As her two children are constantly introduced to different diseases in their daily interactions, Aiello said illness has increasingly become a presence in her household.
With her two young children, Aiello said it was nearly impossible to quarantine anyone in her household from interacting with others.
“You can do the best you can do,” Aiello said, explaining her ritualized cleaning of bathrooms using bleach products and washing all laundry on the hottest cycle. “You can do all those things, but the only way to really stop it is to have people not breathing on each other. ... it's kind of impossible."
Unfortunately, the flu vaccines were not effective in preventing her two children from coming down with the illness. Aiello and her husband have both been vaccinated against the flu, and have yet to develop symptoms.
Masks are effective tools to prevent transmission in certain cases, and Aiello said she would recommend people wear them if visiting the home of individuals sick with the flu.
Wearing a mask to prevent flu and norovirus from spreading in her own home would not be a feasible option, Aiello said, as her children would likely not be able to keep them on their faces and would rip them off of her own face.
Aiello said her family relied on a steady diet of crackers, Pedialyte, Gatorade and water to get them through three weeks of sickness.
Though there are many newfound food aversions for the family, Aiello took the outbreak on her own turf as matter-of-fact.
“People get sick,” she said.
Amy Biolchini covers Washtenaw County, health and environmental issues for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at (734) 623-2552, amybiolchini@annarbor.com or on Twitter.
Comments
Milton Shift
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 12:34 a.m.
One of the most important things to do to keep your immune system up has been left out in this conversation: get your 8 hours of sleep every night! I can't emphasize this enough. Just an hour or two less and your risk of getting sick more than doubles.
G. Orwell
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 12:16 a.m.
Take your pick of any of these articles. Most of them are probably far more credible than the mainstream media articles that depend heavily on pharmaceutical ads for their income. https://www.google.com/search?q=vitamin+d+prevents+flu&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&client=safari
UtrespassM
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 3:04 a.m.
Cover your mouth, Wash your hands. Stay in your room.
grimmk
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 9:56 a.m.
Cover your mouth with your arm or shoulder. DO NOT COVER YOUR MOUTH WITH YOUR HAND. Think of all that that hand touches. GROSS. Cough into your ARM. Teach your kids this too. Please.
GoNavy
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 5:50 a.m.
I second the "cover your mouth & wash your hands." Especially the cover your mouth part - I can't stand when people cough and sneeze violently into the open as if they're the only people on this planet.
JRW
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 12:01 a.m.
How about NOT going to work if you are sick. This is common sense! Spreading around your norovirus or flu to others by coughing, typing on a computer that others use, shaking hands, etc, is only going to cause the viruses to spread to others. Be considerate and STAY HOME if you are sick! Restaurant workers, STAY HOME if you are sick!
PhillyCheeseSteak
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 2:47 p.m.
Most restaurant and food service workers don't get paid if they don't work. Even "progressive" food service businesses such as Zingerman's, give their workers 0 sick days.
Tesla
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 2:43 a.m.
Problem with that is (besides the obvious challenges) are that most people are carrying nassy germs and spreading even when they are so called "Not sick" So when do you pull the trigger?
Kafkaland
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 11:01 p.m.
The single best public health measure to combat the spread of the flu would be to ensure that every worker has paid sick days. If you come to work sick out of fear of losing your job, or being unable to pay your bills, you put many others at risk. Is there a small cost to this? Certainly. But I'd be willing to pay a little bit more for a meal at a restaurant if I knew for sure that the cook will stay home when he has the flu.
talker
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 1:54 a.m.
We are avoiding eating in restaurants now due to the rotovirus. If restaurant business goes down, there could be an incentive for workers to be given sick days and for restaurants that take serious precautions to publicize this. Washing hands after touching surfaces from doorknobs to computers is one simple, but often skipped precaution.
C.C. Ingersoll
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 9:18 p.m.
It might be different now, but when I worked for Zingerman's 1992-1995 we got paid sick days; just sayin'...
PhillyCheeseSteak
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 2:46 p.m.
Most restaurant and food service workers don't get paid if they don't work. Even "progressive" food service businesses such as Zingerman's, give their workers 0 sick days.
JRW
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 12:05 a.m.
It should be illegal to have sick workers in a commercial restaurant kitchen. Period.
G. Orwell
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 9:34 p.m.
For those of you that are not informed here is the Harvard University study on vitamin D. http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamin-d/ "Why are these widespread vitamin D deficiencies of such great concern? Because research conducted over the past decade suggests that vitamin D plays a much broader disease-fighting role than once thought. Being "D-ficient" may increase the risk of a host of chronic diseases, such as osteoporosis, heart disease, some cancers, and multiple sclerosis, as well as infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and even the seasonal flu."
DBH
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 12:03 a.m.
@G. Orwell, for what it's worth, I do take vitamin D, but I am not naïve enough to believe that it has a significant role in preventing influenza. And, to my knowledge, there is no firm evidence that it prevents cancers of any sort. Speculation? Yes. But I have not seen any studies that actually show that supplementation with vitamin D leads to a reduced rate of cancers. If you know of any studies that show this, I would appreciate a link. And these need to be prospective studies, not retrospective. Showing that people with cancer have lower levels of vitamin D (if that's even true, I don't know that it is or isn't) really would mean nothing, because there would be no cause and effect provable in such a study.
G. Orwell
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 7 p.m.
Vitamin D has so many other benefits, no side effects, and dirt cheap, why not take it. DBH, do yourself a big favor and take vitamin D. You will thank me for it. There is even a lot of evidence vitamin D prevents and stops some cancers.
DBH
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 11:29 p.m.
Since you repeated your posting, I will do the same with my reply to your earlier comment. @G. Orwell, thank you for that link. Quoting from the link, "Researchers found that type A influenza rates in the vitamin D group were about 40 percent lower than in the placebo group; there was no significant difference in type B influenza rates. This was a small but promising study, and more research is needed before we can definitively say that vitamin D protects against the flu. But don't skip your flu shot, even if vitamin D has some benefit." So, based on that one study (and it was pretty small, only 340 subjects total), vitamin D supplementation might reduce type A influenza but showed no effect against type B. And, to emphasize the final sentence in the link that YOU supplied, they do NOT recommend skipping the flu shot.
beachbaby
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 7:37 p.m.
How about not sending kids to school sick----they can make up their mid-terms/homework/etc.. the following week!!
slave2work
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 12:13 a.m.
Agreed!!.. Parents need to keep their kids home at the 1st signs, but then this means they lose a day or 2 of work, which at some jobs means they get docked or in trouble just for taking care of their kids. There needs to be a change in employers ideals and allow workers to take care of their sick kids if needed. with out getting in trouble.
CynicA2
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 11:39 p.m.
Agreed... adults should know better than to come to work. But, not everyone has sick days, or they fear losing their jobs if they take more than a couple, so they come to work, anyway. It should be illegal to come to work if you have something contagious, but who would pay for it?!
justcurious
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 9:21 p.m.
How about adult workers doing the same thing? Stay home, use your sick days when you are sick and give everyone else a break!
CynicA2
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 8:21 p.m.
How about quarantines for kids... keep those germ-infested little buggers locked-up for the winter. Kids are really over-rated.
rm1
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 6:18 p.m.
No kudos are due to G. Orwell's. . . uhh . . . misinformed claim: "First, flu shots do not work and may have severe side effects per the CDC." Attributing those misleading assertions to the CDC is out of line. In fact flu shots do work, above 60% of the time, according to the CDC (i.e., giving the vaccinated close to a 2 in 3 chance of heading off the flu). Side effects are minor and far outweighed by the benefits of avoiding or mitigating the flu, especially for infants, elders, and those with compromised immune systems. See: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57563507/cdc-flu-vaccine-62-effective-47-states-report-widespread-illness/ 60%+ is certainly not perfect, but very helpful, where an average of about 24,000 people die of the flu each year. Making the vaccine is far from perfect, in part because we do not yet have a better system for producing it than the old method of growing it in chicken eggs. Although I understand there is promising research into faster methods, now CDC has to make an informed guess, based on an imperfect set of data 4-6 months ahead of time, as to what flu virus strains may be prevalent in flu season, and set production in motion. This year they got it about 90% right. (See link above.) Some years they are surprised by the emergence of other strains of virus.
Dcam
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 12:22 p.m.
CDC's claim the vaccine is 60% effective sounds quite a bit like SPARK claiming to have retained and created many jobs. If one has had a flu shot and didn't get the flu, is it because of the vaccine, or simply a case of not getting the flu? A near 50-50 chance of success isn't much better than a coin flip, is it? How many unvaccinated subjects were in the control group for this study, and how many of them were infected compared to the vaccinated subjects? I've never had a flu vaccine and I've never had the flu, and I'm too old to change my ways now. I take CoQ10 per the doctor's recommendation, based purely on empirical evidence - no control studies. So, some things are taken at face value.
DBH
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 7:03 p.m.
I agree with your comment 100%. A little-appreciated fact about the effectiveness of vaccines is that protective antibodies are much less likely to develop in those who are sleep-deprived. One study of the hepatitis B vaccine showed that those who slept fewer than 6 hours per night on average were 11.5 times more likely to not develop protective antibodies compared to those who slept more than 7 hours per night on average. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/08/120801093421.htm While I haven't seen similar studies for the influenza vaccine (or others), I think it is likely that sleep deprivation leads to suboptimal vaccine responsiveness for other diseases as well.
ypsilady73
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 5:15 p.m.
Doesn't washing/drying laundry on the hottest cycle destroy the fabrics faster, fade the colors, and shrink (some of) them? I wash most of my laundry on cold and dry it on low with the hopes that my garments will live long and healthy lives. Is that not the case?
ArthGuinness
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 1:35 a.m.
Precisely right, DBH. It's a tradeoff. Don't forget it typically costs more to run high heat. Personally I'd probably skip it in the summer when there's less diseases going around.
dading dont delete me bro
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 6:16 p.m.
would you rather be sick?!? just sayin'
DBH
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 6:04 p.m.
I am not an expert on fabric care but, yes, I believe such treatment of laundry will shorten its useful life span. It is a tradeoff between such a shortened life span of clothing and reducing the infectiousness of fomites in an environment in which such infection exists.
snapshot
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 4:47 p.m.
There's some really bizzare health concepts in this post. DBH seems to have a grasp on reality. The old is forever new; eat real food.....real food is anything that does not have a label, take reasonable precautions with hand washing and surface cleaning (the rubbing/friction alone can kill bacteria), and try to stay away from sick or recently sick people. Getting sick and dying are the hard facts of life. Just thank your lucky stars you were born, or live in a developed nation which significantly reduces those hard facts of life.
justcurious
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 9:19 p.m.
Hmmmm..sounds a lot like my post.
Steve Bean
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 3:41 p.m.
The out-of-context quote in the headline is misleading. As G. Orwell advocates in a comment above, I take 5000 IU of vitamin D daily. Anecdotally, I've been flu-free for at least five years with the exception of last year. The Vitamin D Council (www.vitamindcouncil.org) has info on studies related to cold and flu prevention. The cold and flu season is during the period of least daylight, which leads to lower vitamin D levels in blood, which is in turn one of the major factors for increased susceptibility, it seems.
Steve Bean
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 8:02 p.m.
Thanks for the info, DBH. I remembered after writing that my illness last year was actually a short-term (a day or two) case of what was probably food related. You'll have to redo your math, 1bit.
Chase Ingersoll
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 2:53 a.m.
I've been taking 10,000 IU's
Milton Shift
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 12:16 a.m.
Approximately 5-20% of US residents catch the flu every year. You had the flu once in five years - that's 20%.
justcurious
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 9:19 p.m.
When I read "vitamin d council" that tells me everything I need to know about how much weight I would put in what they say.
1bit
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 6:49 p.m.
Unvaccinated yearly risk for Steve Bean in developing the flu: 1/5 = 20%. Vaccinated yearly risk for Steve Bean in developing the flu: 60% reduction = 8% Yes, Vitamin D is good for you too.
Hesh Breakstone
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 4:42 p.m.
It's simply easier to blame the flu, viruses, blight and decay, not winning the lottery, old age, socks that don't match on the rightful causation.... the republicans.... ;)
DBH
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 3:56 p.m.
Lower levels of vitamin D and increased frequency of colds and influenza in the winter is a correlation, not a causative link. Much more likely is the increased congregation of people (particularly children) for prolonged periods during the winter, with increased transmissibility (both by contact with infected surfaces and aerosolization of coughs and sneezes) of the virus as a result. Also, recent studies have shown that the colder weather, being lower in humidity than it is in warmer weather, dries out the expelled secretions, allowing the virus to travel farther (up to 6 feet) than it would with greater humidity in the air. Very recent studies actually have shown no beneficial effect of vitamin D supplementation on reducing the frequency of the common cold.
justcurious
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 3:32 p.m.
Wash your hands frequently, don't touch your nose or moth with your hands, use the disinfectant wipes that they provide at the supermarket to avoid getting germs off of the grocery cart handle (think sick kids). Eat a good healthy diet, take some vitamin D if you don't get enough natural sun exposure. Try to avoid folks who are actively coughing and encourage them to stay home from work. That's about all you can do and have a dose of good luck. I'm also of the belief that you should not go overboard trying to protect your children from contact with good old fashioned dirt. It helps to boost their immune systems.
Chase Ingersoll
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 3 a.m.
Completely disagree on the hand washing. People walk into the rest room and touch the door with a dirty hand. Then they wash their hands and go right back to touching the door, tables and everything that had the bacteria to begin with and breathing the air floating around that just was just filled with a sneeze. My kids come home from school with the sniffles, I make certain to kiss them on their little mouths and take some more Vitamin D drops.
Tesla
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 3:26 p.m.
...we have come to praise Bubble Boy. Not bury him. Gross. This...
Technojunkie
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 3:09 p.m.
"Aiello said her family relied on a steady diet of crackers, Pedialyte, Gatorade and water to get them through three weeks of sickness." Gluten, HFCS, petroleum derived synthetic food additives... Read "Nutrition and Physical Degeneration" by Weston A. Price. Bone broths, fermented foods, healthy fats, etc. If you follow the low-fat, whole grain propaganda you'll never have a decent immune system. You'll still get sick, just much less often and with faster recovery times. Whatever you do, get out of the industrial food system as much as you can. Vaccines and meds are no substitute for real food.
ArthGuinness
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 1:32 a.m.
While I agree that crackers and Gatorade aren't very nutritious, sometimes it's hard to get food in a sick child, so I would try to avoid being too judgmental. I literally have to cool Pedialyte down to the freezing point before my kids touch the stuff, but it's absolutely necessary sometimes, unless you want to visit the ER. (I once had a kid with his heart racing at something like 150bpm because I didn't realize how dehydrated he had become while sick - Pedialyte fixed that problem within a half hour).
Milton Shift
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 12:14 a.m.
It's certainly true we don't eat well, and this causes us to fall ill more easily - but good food can't substitute for vaccines and medications either.
seldon
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 9:11 p.m.
Gluten isn't bad for you unless you have Celiac or are specifically gluten-intolerant.
justcurious
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 3:33 p.m.
Good comment.
Mick52
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 3:07 p.m.
Why aren't flu shots free under the Affordable Health Care Act? Oh, because it is not a prescription for healthy people such as birth control, it's a preventative prescription to prevent illness. What am I thinking? Sorry.
Enso
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 5:39 a.m.
At Sally, My health insurance rates (strictly from the private sector) go up ever couple years. Either way I'm spending more money. IF I have to spend that extra money, I don't see why helping children get healthcare is a bad thing. Or how its bad that insurance companies can no longer deny coverage to people with medical conditions.
Silly Sally
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 12:30 a.m.
JRW says "All health insurance companies have to cover preventive services at no cost to the patient" - Don't you get it, Of course they charge the patient. They do it through higher policy fees. EMU raised their student insurance policy due to Obama care. It had been flat for the past 4 or 5 years. It jumped 40% in one year to cover the "free exams and such.
JRW
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 11:56 p.m.
All health insurance companies have to cover preventive services at no cost to the patient. Flu shots are covered by all ins companies as of preventive ACA provisions that kicked in in 2010. Your ins co should have sent a list of these covered services to everyone they insure.
1bit
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 3:34 p.m.
http://www.healthcare.gov/news/factsheets/2010/09/affordable-care-act-immunization.html http://tinyurl.com/c2mpx3h
Max
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 3:23 p.m.
What are you thinking? Not too much!
dexterreader
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 2:58 p.m.
If people take normal precautions (i.e., hand washing, getting a flu shot, etc.) there's not much else one can do. I suppose one could hibernate for the winter, but most of us work and so that option isn't feasible. As Ms. Aiello learned, you can't keep all the "bad stuff" away no matter how hard you try.
DBH
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 2:58 p.m.
One likely explanation for ongoing transmission of norovirus and influenza within a community is that those ill with either disease can remain contagious (capable of transmitting the infection) for a week or more after they feel better. If at all possible, minimize contact with others during this time, and diligently wash your hands.
Basic Bob
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 11:06 p.m.
The key to staying healthy is to ban small children from your home. We've never been so sick as the year my oldest turned three and went to preschool.
G. Orwell
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 2:40 p.m.
In most cases it is so simple to prevent catching the flu. First, flu shots do not work and may have severe side effects per the CDC. Just take a reasonable amount of inexpensive vitamin D, eat well and exercise. Vitamin D is the key. Anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 IUDs a day will prevent getting the flu. Vitamin D strenghtens the immune system to fight off the virus. in addition to numerous other health benefits. Big Pharma don't want you to know this because there is no money in it for them.
DBH
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 11:57 p.m.
@G. Orwell, recommending that one be cautious and not avoid the influenza vaccine - that doesn't make any sense, right? You don't want to be cautious, no sir. And the study for which you provided the link showed NO protection of vitamin D in preventing type B influenza. Unless you are able to pick and choose to which strain of influenza you are exposed, relying on vitamin D supplementation alone to reduce your risk of illness (if it, in fact, does anything in those not frankly deficient in vitamin D) is a gamble. And influenza surviving better in dry conditions is not a myth as you claim. A one-minute search on the Internet revealed the following link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121204162125.htm The information, from reliable sources, is out there. Speculation is not necessary and does the public a disservice (well, actually, only someone naïve enough who might believe such speculation).
Milton Shift
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 9:36 p.m.
I think things are being simplified too much here. It's probably a combination of factors: lack of vitamin D, lack of good sleep, spending more time in close quarters with others, and dry conditions which allow the virus to spread more easily. And yes, the vaccine does help - it can make you feel crummy for a day or so, but it's nothing like a real flu, and it does reduce the chances of catching it dramatically - and if you do catch it, it's likely to be a shorter, less severe illness.
C.C. Ingersoll
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 9:13 p.m.
"I read it on the internet; so it MUST be true!" "How do I know this? I read it on the internet, of course!"
G. Orwell
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 6:56 p.m.
@DBH The Harvard study was on the benefits of vitamin D, not on the flu vaccine. Therefore, the fact that the researcher recommends flu vaccine does not say much. The researcher is probably errorring on the side of caution. @CLX Your belief that flu viruses transmit better in dry conditions is probably a myth to hide the obvious. That the lack of sun is why people get the flu. If your myth were to be true, people in the south west should catch the flu more often and year round compared to people in more humid parts of the country.
Enso
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 5:35 a.m.
Kudos, DBH. Well done.
DBH
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 11:25 p.m.
@G. Orwell, thank you for that link. Quoting from the link, "Researchers found that type A influenza rates in the vitamin D group were about 40 percent lower than in the placebo group; there was no significant difference in type B influenza rates. This was a small but promising study, and more research is needed before we can definitively say that vitamin D protects against the flu. But don't skip your flu shot, even if vitamin D has some benefit." So, based on that one study (and it was pretty small, only 340 subjects total), vitamin D supplementation might reduce type A influenza but showed no effect against type B. And, to emphasize the final sentence in the link that YOU supplied, they do NOT recommend skipping the flu shot.
G. Orwell
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 8:37 p.m.
More from Harvard. Quote, "Being 'D-ficient' may increase the risk of a host of chronic diseases, such as osteoporosis, heart disease, some cancers, and multiple sclerosis, as well as infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and even the seasonal flu."
G. Orwell
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 8:35 p.m.
Anyone that spends any time researching and is well informed will know what I have claimed is true. Harvard University study on vitamin D. I guess to some of you, Harvard researchers are conspiracy theorists. "Why are these widespread vitamin D deficiencies of such great concern? Because research conducted over the past decade suggests that vitamin D plays a much broader disease-fighting role than once thought." http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/vitamin-d/
CLX
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 6:14 p.m.
The flu spreads more in the winter because the flu virus favors dry conditions, and our homes are buildings more dry in the winter. Lack of sun is not the factor. Besides, there has been plenty of sun this year, and a bad outbreak. The flu shot saves lives. Even if it does not completely prevent it, there is evidence that it lessens its effects. With so many people dying, I think it's nonsense to spread misinformation about the flu vaccine.
DBH
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 5:59 p.m.
@G. Orwell, googling "benefits of vitamin D" will yield a whole lot of links to junk sites involving (I expect) many maladies, not a targeted listing of reliable references related to prevention of influenza. Do you not have ONE link you can provide that provides a reliable reference which demonstrates the efficacy of vitamin D in preventing influenza? "Common sense" is unreliable, as many people (understandably) continue to make the mistake of drawing conclusions based on correlation in the absence of well-controlled studies showing causation. You appear to be among that group.
G. Orwell
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 5 p.m.
Just Google, "benefits of vitamin D" and you will get more than enough publications, videos, and evidence. Why do you think people get the flu mainly during the winter months. Common sense will tell you it is because of lack of sun. Less sun results in less production of vitamin D. Think people. I have not been sick for nearly 10 years since I began taking vitamin D. I use to get sick at lease once or twice a year and be out for two weeks. Give it a try. It is very inexpensive and NO side effects. Cannot lose.
EyeHeartYpsi
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 4:29 p.m.
While my family and I got our flu shots (with no side effects), our doctor also admitted that there are many strains of the virus that are resistent to the vaccine - case in point Mrs. Aiello and her family. There is evidence as Orwell says that "vitamin D strengthens the immune system." Also, most of us northerners are deficient in specifically Vitamin D3 due to our lack of sun exposure. Does Vitamin D prevent the flu? Don't know, but a stronger immune system can't hurt. Most importantly, wash your hands and try not to touch your face. Here are a few sources that discuss the possible merits of vitamin d supplements and its impact on the immune system. (BTW, Orwell, an IUD is a birth control method. IU=International Unit). http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/aug/19/alice-roberts-vitamin-d-health http://www.health.harvard.edu/flu-resource-center/how-to-boost-your-immune-system.htm http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/the-miracle-of-vitamin-d-sound-science-or-hype/ http://www.today.com/id/45022571/site/todayshow/ns/today-today_health/t/easy-ways-boost-your-immune-system/#.UQQBikoTJMY
justcurious
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 3:27 p.m.
Each of your methods of "preventing" the flu has no merit. Please do not spread disinformation like this.
Unusual Suspect
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 3:22 p.m.
"Please cite a reliable reference" ... other than Alex Jones.
DBH
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 3:15 p.m.
Please cite a reliable reference which demonstrates the efficacy of vitamin D in preventing influenza. Thanks.
Chase Ingersoll
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 1:04 p.m.
I have a liquid form of copper sulfate penta-hydrate used to kill the cholera bacteria. Whenever I feel a cold coming on in my nose or throat, I put a drop of the copper sulfate into a cup of water and use it as a mouthwash. Instant relief and the cold does not develop. The chemistry behind the ability of them mineral to kill the bacteria is a large positive ion that attracts the negative ions in bacteria. Molecularly speaking, is a virus affected the same way? I don't know but I don't get paid sick days so I'm glad it is working.
Chase Ingersoll
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 2:56 a.m.
Copper is an essential element, like zinc and iron. The next formula of this product is going to contain both of those elements as it has been tested to treat other specific tropical diseases.
Chase Ingersoll
Mon, Jan 28, 2013 : 2:51 a.m.
It's a new product at a ppm that is only toxic to single cell organisms. It's had all of the laboratory tests etc, and 100,000's of bottle for personal use have been shipped to Haiti and other tropical countries. It is a derivative of non-chlorine based algaecides used to maintain pools and hot-tubs. One of the more interesting uses was a shipment of 55 gallon drums of the product to an alligator farm in Zimbabwe. They were using it to cut down on the bacteria growth in the water - so that they would not have to flush out the alligator tanks as often.
Milton Shift
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 9:01 p.m.
Copper is actually quite poisonous. Wouldn't try this one.
mgoscottie
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 12:34 p.m.
Stop doing this, copper ions are. Toxic,it will disinfect,but it is like using peroxide, it is poison
Jeff Renner
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 1:02 a.m.
a) Cholera is in no way related to the common cold. b) You are highly unlikely to be exposed to the cholera bacterium, Vibrio cholerae, in Ann Arbor.
dading dont delete me bro
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 6:09 p.m.
hunh?!?
RunsWithScissors
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 2:30 p.m.
Hmmm. This is intriguing. I looked up copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate and discovered that it is mainly used as a fungicide and soil additive in the agricultural industry. It was also used in the past as an emetic but is now considered too toxic for this use. I read a brief description of its use as a bactericide but no details on how and which bacteria. Then I looked up cholera bacteria and discovered that the best way of defeating that lil' beastie is to sterilize the water by boiling, chlorination, ozone water treatment, UV treatment or antimicrobial filtration. I'm posting this information so some folks won't be tempted to purchase a pot of CuSO4·5H2O and start taking huge, and possibly lethal, doses.
Craig Lounsbury
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 12:36 p.m.
".....washing all laundry on the hottest cycle" Most hot water heaters are set in the 120-130 degree range. Is that hot enough to actually kill the virus?
arborani
Sun, Jan 27, 2013 : 8:23 p.m.
Let's hear it for us low-end washer guys - still with our (gasp) top load machines.
jmcmurray
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 4:10 p.m.
Research suggests that most microorganisms are killed in the dryer (on high heat). http://ces.ca.uky.edu/pike-files/Cleaning_Flood-Soiled_Clothing.pdf
Craig Lounsbury
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 3:12 p.m.
I'm a low end washer guy I didn't know... :(
smokeblwr
Sat, Jan 26, 2013 : 1:02 p.m.
High-end washing machines can heat the water further.