Re breastfeeding and pandemics.

I will leave someone else to answer the scientific reasons why a baby who is breastfed would be better protected but I would like to answer the logistics of infant feeding in the event of a pandemic.

Unfortunately we have seen many examples around the world this year of large scale crisis and the impact on public health.  I imagine the people of Pakistan are still living this nightmare right now.

I listened on the radio the other day how we are no better prepared for a flu pandemic in this centuary (apart from medical advances, but they will be limited) than we were with the flu pandemic last centuary.

Businesses might shut down for the duration, people will be encouraged to stay at home and avoid public places, schools will close down and hospitals will have to turn people away if nothing can be done.

Apparently it was the nursing and medical staff who were worst hit in the flu epidemic of 1919.  Unless they are immunised they will have every right to stay away from work.

Obtaining infant formula may be difficult - heck it may even become scarce!  Parents will be reluctant to take a baby to the doctor for mild to moderate ailments because of the risk of cross infection. Malls may be closed and pharmacies under a lot of pressure.  In other words, all the things  we take for granted may come to a screeching halt for the duration.

If people were sick in my neighbourhood from the flu I would gather in my chicks, batten down the hatches and tell those chicks of mine to make do on beans and rice until all is clear.  Wouldn't you. And if I still had a baby in the house, he or she would certainly be breastfed!

Karen Palmer, from Waikato Breastfeeding Collective
Midwife and IBCLC
New Zealand  
> From: Janice Reynolds <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 2005/10/27 Thu AM 04:23:13 GMT+13:00
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: bird flu, pandemics and breastfeeding
> 
> This quote from a celebrity in the media, mentions that being breastfed could protect against protect against avian flu and being a victim of the pandemic.
> 
> Since there is so much talk about pandmeic - what are the actual facts or physiology in play?  Would a person who had been biologically breastfeed have a better chance of surviving the pandemic, and why?
> 
> Thanks
> Janice Reynolds
> 
> 
> http://imdb.com/news/wenn/2005-10-25/
> 
> American actress Chloe Sevigny is refusing to succumb to the media hysteria surrounding the bird flu virus.
> 
> She tells the New York Daily News, "Doesn't avian flu affect old people more? I'm young and healthy. I have a strong constitution. My mother breast-fed me for years."
> 
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