Originally Posted by
Aussienarelle
As someone who travelled frequently overseas during SARS, I am not someone who is prone to overreacting on flu type outbreaks, but the fact the WHO was at 50/50 on the issue yesterday and there is a lot of politics at play in that organization this is more serious than the Chinese initially let on.
1919 was the last serious worldwide influenza epidemic and we did not have the fast global connections we have now. We are overdue for a killer influenza and I for one will be wearing a respirator when I travel. Of course basic hygiene principles as well.
I am amazed UA has not yet mandated them for their customer facing personnel.
This is wise since we don't know exactly how much virus is necessary to overwhelm the immune system. It is very likely that any reduction in viral exposure will have some benefit in one's ability to fight off a full blown infection. Survival rate, based on the current, admittedly tainted, Chinese information is around 80%, so there are many unknown variables that can help one overcome the infection, and reduction of total viral particle exposure is likely one of those factors.