Air purifiers, more specifically the right ionic air purifier, will be an essential tool in protecting you from the much feared bird flu pandemic, we say.

Relax, bird flu pandemic is nothing more than an urban legend, says Professor Philip Alcabes, professor of urban public health at the University of New York. In a Washington Post press article on 15 Mar 2009, he debunks as 5 myths the 5 major thoughts motivating health authorities, namely:

(1) Infectious diseases are spreading faster than ever

(2) To learn how to prevent a pandemic, look to the past

(3) We should brace ourselves for another Spanish flu

(4) The annual flu season is nothing compared to a pandemic

(5) There’s no such thing as being too prepared.

Relax, no way! Says Professor Albert Osterhaus, a Dutch virologist who identified the SARS virus in 2003. In a Straits Times report dated 21 Feb 2009, the professor was quoted saying “What we’re seeing today is unprecedented in history. The virus has spread in Europe, Asia and Africa. It’s still spreading, and it’s not going down. It’s not under control.” Other highlights reported:

(1) More than 60% of the over 400 infected people have died

(2) Most infections have been from bird to man but all it takes is a slight virus mutation to make human-to-human transmission possible

(3) When that happens and if its not controlled in 4 weeks, then it’s “out of the box” pandemonium

(4) Its illusory to think a full-blown outbreak can be contained as incubation is short, onset is rapid, infectivity early.

That’s apocalypse stuff, a stark contrast to Professor Alcabe!

As usual, we in the middle are none the wiser when two bigwig professors disagree. So, to buy or not to buy an ionic air purifier? And which is the best air purifier?

Remember, most health authorities believe the best course of action is keeping alert for emerging flu strains and preparation by having vaccines. In our view, they ignore the right ionic air purifier, to our peril.

Countries, like Japan and Switzerland, are already doing pre-pandemic priming. That’s the process of giving the first of 2 vaccine doses to key frontline personnel (medical healthcare workers, police, military men). There will then be no time lost in giving them the critical second dose when a pandemic breaks out. No mention of using ionic air purifiers anywhere.

Governments have to prioritise vaccines. It seems sensible that, we should use products like an ionic air purifier while we await our jabs, which may take a while. Not just any but the right ionic air purifier.

Authorities typically shy away from endorsing any commercial product. Why? Even vaccines are commercially produced. There is no lack of other precedence. For example, this US government site openly endorses several commercial brands.

Such governmental endorsement mitigates confusion when people panic. It also reduces the inevitable hoarding and profiteering that rears up whenever widespread crisis occurs.

We hope that despite stretched resources, governments will assign people to test the claims made by commercial organizations. Apart from essentials like face masks, respirators (e.g. N95) and anti-contaminant handwashes, air purifiers (especially ionic air purifiers) which are claimed by manufacturers (like Sharp plasmacluster ions) to be 99.9% effective against the H5N1 virus immediately come to mind as a priority stand-by appliance to have.

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