Thread by @1goodtern

Ahead of a potential bird flu pandemic, I would give one specific warning:

Be *very careful* about whom you trust for information.

For a start, don't believe anyone who says "the way to not catch respiratory infections is to cover your mouth when coughing".

Don't trust anyone who says "sneeze into your elbow".

Or anyone who says "most people will not die".

Don't trust anyone who says "it's mild in children".

In fact, don't trust anyone who seems to be trying to instill a happy vibe that there's no problem.

If there's a problem, you need people in charge who admit there's a problem.

Don't trust anyone who encourages you to get sick.
With bird flu, or covid, or anything, really.

How might bird flu transmit if it went person to person?

Probably in a combination of aerosols, droplets, and contact with fluids.

You wouldn't be able to absorb it through your skin, but if you got it on your hand and picked your nose, that might do the job.

It might not be as easily aerosolised as covid, but you're still going to want an ffp2/n95+ mask, not a surgical one.

All that handwashing practice will come in handy too.

More so than with Covid, probably.

There are good deals on N95/FFP2+ masks *now*, and you can get some practice in.

Will you be able to catch it through your eyes?

Honestly, I have no idea.
But anyone who has already got themselves a pair of stoggles may be wisely prepared.

If it starts to spread widely, you may want to think about how you handle and prepare food.

Don't trust anyone who says that it's fine to eat raw milk or eggs.

Those people do not have your best interests at heart.

Don't trust people who lied about Covid being fine to catch.

Don't trust anyone appointed by Donald Trump

And don't trust anyone who says the way to end the pandemic is for everyone to get infected.

Also, be very careful believing anyone who is trying to sell you a product like supplements or unproven treatments or preventatives.

Whom should you trust?

People who are cautious.

People who are compassionate.

People who consider the worst case scenario, and include it within their plans, rather than those who exclude them altogether.

People who aren't trying to sell you something or get you to do something like go to restaurants.

People who are taking into consideration the most vulnerable in society.

*Don't trust* people who are passing multi million dollar contracts to their friends.

Do trust people who put contracts properly out to tender.

*Don't trust* birds on the internet.

Yes, I know I'm one, that's the point.

Don't trust sociologists who tell you to get infected.

But trust people who have a consistent track record of being right, if you can find them.