H1N1: Was it exaggerated?

Many of you may be friends on my personal Facebook page.  If so, you'll know I blogged the bejesus out of H1N1 hype, fact, stastistics, and most importantly, shed light on the H1N1 vaccinations.

Have you heard any recent doom and gloom about H1N1? No.  That's right, because there isn't much.  So now, Monday morning quarterbacks are starting to criticize. Some of it is very valid, and some of it.... eh, I think we needed a kick in the pants!

Article: Did the WHO exaggerate the H1N1 Flu Pandemic's Danger?

This URL is an article written about over-hyping H1N1.  Here's my take.

Each year the flu kills hundreds of thousands of people. This is a known fact that repeats itself every year.  This is not new news. Instead, news teams added extra hype to this figure by making it sound like new news! That was a problem. We were receivingVALID statistics, but with lots of alarming emotion without qualifying the "why"!
Flu season happens every year.  Every year, we should expect to witness a different flu strain, or one that's become "trendy" again. That's just how it goes.  Next year won't be any different!

But the silver lining that statisticians (nor media) can't capture is how we've learned better ways to keep our germs to ourselves, or avoid infecting ourselves in the firstplace, aka hygiene.  For example, how many of you have reinvented the sneeze?  Instead of sneezing into your hands, you sneeze into the inside of your elbow.  I do.
Or how many of you have washed your hands consciously after touching public doorknobs, etc? 
I believe this H1N1 hype has served a great purpose!  It has created AWARENESS!  Hygiene Awareness!
This is why Super Body Care created the I love Swine flu campaign! Swine Flu has created awareness and the need for great products like ours, that don't use any harsh antibacterial chemicals, yet still are effective against bacteria. In fact, check out some independent test results that demonstrates Super Body Care wipes have antimicrobial properties against MRSA (staph) and e.Coli. Test Results

Now, I do believe that some pharms, gov't, and other stakeholders had money on their minds when H1N1 pandemic gained momentum and fear over the summer.  And now that there are 50+ million unwanted doses or canceled orders, it does make me sneer a bit that someone's going to be eating those costs that were caused by fear. 

Are you waking up yet America?  :)
I love you!

cheri

Spreading "the word" at LA FIT EXPO

Super Body Care just attended LA FIT Expo this past weekend, Jan 22 & 23, at Los Angeles Convention center.  Special thanks to Tracy and David for their help this weekend!!!   THANK YOU for making it a success!!! 
We handed out samples all weekend long of our Wipes, Shower gel, Walnut scrub and Soap bars.  People were forming a line around our corner booth to make sure they got samples!  It was truly exciting! Clearly, people are getting smarter and smarter about the use of chemicals on their skin, and avoiding the commercial-based antibacterial ingredients.  People even tried their samples on Saturday night and came back on Sunday to take advantage of event pricing and make their purchases.  We even had a repeat customer come back from an event in San Diego in December to tell us he was the only one is his gym who didn't get staph!  He bought 5 big bars on the spot! 

What's great is the timing couldn't be better for some recent monumental news that confirm the validity of testimonials just like that!!!  Recently, we tested the antimicrobial effectiveness on MRSA (staph) and e. Coli.  The results were successful, so certainly all weekend long, we bragged and showed people the report demonstrating antimicrobial properties!!!

What do people find valuable when talking with us?  Facts. Awareness. Products that prevent.
There were several good conversations with customers. 
What helps are these really "cute" but really evil bacteria and fungi that we have on display. They make great conversation starters, like......

30% of the population carries colonies of staph in their nose or other nooks and crannies.
1% of the population carries colonies of MRSA in their nose or other nooks and crannies.
Staph multiplies at the rate of every half hour, therefore, it's imperative to cleanse after skin to skin contact or using equipment.
Athlete's Foot is the same fungus as Jock Itch.  ;)

We  made friends with lots of great people from the military, cell biologists, The Green Expo, MMA, body builders, athletes, power lifters, teachers, navy, those with sensitive skin, actors,  screen writers (after all, we were in LA!), and people who look for products made as natural as possible!  

Please check out our new Super Body Care website.  It's been redesigned to provide jam packed info and monthly specials. This month you have until January 31st to get 23% off,  8 oz Shower Gel for $9.99. 

With every purchase made online at SuperBodyCare.com, we will include samples of our other products.

How is MRSA different from Staph? Why is it a Superbug!?

MRSA never existed until the 1960's. Even then, it was an infection usually contracted in the hospital.  Now, MRSA has hit locker rooms, schools, and MMA gyms, to name a few. 
Statistics state that IF you've ever been treated for a staph infection any time previously, there is a higher likelihood that you'll get MRSA.
MRSA stands for Methicillin-Resistant Staph Aureus.  What does that mean? It's a particular strain of staph that cannot be treated with a large spectrum of antibiotics. Originally , staph mutated and became resistant to penicillin.  So in 1959, the lab scientists created methicillin antibiotic, and staph mutated once again making it resistant.  As it stands now, MRSA can only be treated by a couple antibiotics, so technically, it's REALLY Multi-Resistant Staph Infection, which some people call now. That also assumes your Dr. is skilled in identifying that you're not responding to the antibiotics that treat a standard staph infecton. 
Why did MRSA not exist before? 
MRSA was just staph before it evolved into MRSA.  MRSA happens when a patient affected with a staph infection doesn't complete the entire round of antibiotics a Dr. prescribes. For example, we've all done it where we feel healed from a sinus infection, but you don't take the remaining pills.  We may think the infection is gone but there are some stronger bacteria remain.  Those bacteria that survive , become EVEN stronger, in the case of Staph, it mutates to a resistant form of staph, and so there you have MRSA.
This is why the statistics are higher for someone who's been treated for staph infection before.  The odds are, it's possible not all the antibiotics were completed, there will be resistance in future infections. 

Here's some interesting stuff...
Starting 25 years ago, Norwegian doctors prescribe fewer antibiotics than any other country, so people do not have a chance to develop resistance to them.   Because of that, they have almost a zero incident rate of MRSA.  Norway MRSA article
This should demonstrate to you, how antibiotics open Pandora's box of disease. 
What should you take away from this?
Consider taking antibiotics as a last resort. Do not take antibiotics as a first measure. Your first line of defense is bed rest and healthy diet.   But if you do have to take them, consume ALL of them.

We promote our Super Body Care wipes as method of prevention of staph.  After training, you should immediately wipe down all areas of the body that come in contact with any other people, equipment, or gear (like pads/protection).  Make your hands a priority to clean often as they spread bacteria like wildfire to not only other people; yourself!!

Stay clean!!  Stay safe!