Usually these stories end with the reporter stating that we have a drastic shortage of the ONLY drug that can potentially save us; Tamiflu. This drug can be taken to prevent the spread of the bird flu and to treat those that come down with this variety of the flu. They don't tell you that this drug is expensive, it does not cure 100% of those who get bird flu and it will only prevent people from getting the bird flu when people take the drug. The influenza season usually starts in October and ends in March or April. To prevent influenza infections with this drug would require a person take this drug for 6-7 months. That would be VERY EXPENSIVE. Even European countries that claim to have enough Tamiflu only really have enough of the drug to treat those that become ill with the bird flu. They don't have enough to give to all their citizens to prevent them from getting the bird flu for the entire flu season.
There is however, a relatively effective and inexpensive solution that if implemented would prevent many people from getting the flu. It was discovered in the mid-1800's by Dr. Ignaz Semmelweis. He had trouble convincing fellow physicians of its efficacy then and even today after hundreds of years of proving its effectiveness over an over again people still don't do it. This solution has been shown to prevent the spread of influenza and many other infectious diseases. It only costs a few cents per day to perform and only 20 seconds of your time to perform the task. This effective and inexpensive method of preventing disease spread is called; hand washing.
People that wash their hands with soap and water with vigorous rubbing for 20 seconds after sneezing and coughing, after using the restroom, after changing a dirty diaper, after petting a dog or cat, after handling money and before handling or eating food are less likely to get several different infections and to give the diseases they have to others. One of the diseases that can be prevented by hand washing is the flu. Researchers have known for a long time that most people get influenza by hand-to-hand contact.
