| "An influenza pandemic of even moderate | | | | where there are people you are at risk. |
| impact will result in the biggest single | | | | |
| human disaster ever - far greater than AIDS, | | | | 5. Wash Your Hands Often. Sneeze particles |
| 9/11, all wars in the 20th century and the | | | | can travel across a room at 600 miles per |
| recent tsunami combined. It has the potential | | | | hour. If the person sneezing has the flu, |
| to redirect world history as the Black Death | | | | everything in that room is covered with flu |
| redirected European history in the 14th | | | | virus. And when you touch anything, the virus |
| century." | | | | is transmitted to your hand. Eventually it |
| | | | will be transmitted to your mouth. Your only |
| -- Michael T. Osterholm, Director, Center for | | | | protection is to wash your hands, well and |
| Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the | | | | often. Each washing should involve vigorous |
| University of Minnesota | | | | scrubbing with soap for at least 20 seconds. |
| | | | |
| A new killer flu virus is on its way. Ducks | | | | 6. Stock up on Food & Water. Supermarkets |
| and geese carrying this virus are now winging | | | | only have enough food for about a week or |
| their way across the globe, spreading the | | | | less. It's critical that you stock up on |
| disease wherever they go. Started in Asia, | | | | enough food to last you for the duration |
| it has now spread to Europe. Soon it will be | | | | which could be 3-4 months. |
| in North and South America. | | | | |
| | | | 7. Buy Enough Anti-Viral Medication for Every |
| So far it has only killed a few dozen humans. | | | | Member of your Family. Currently there are |
| It is, after all, a virus that's passed from | | | | two drugs that can help mitigate the effects |
| bird to bird. Or from bird to animals. So | | | | of the avian flu virus. One is called |
| far it can't be transmitted from human to | | | | oseltamivir, or Tamiflu. It comes in a |
| human. But flu viruses are crafty. They | | | | tablet form. The other is zanamivir, or |
| have the ability to change. This is what | | | | Relenza, which is inhaled. You will need a |
| happened in 1918 when the Spanish Flu | | | | prescription for either of these drugs. They |
| Pandemic swept over a war weary planet | | | | should be taken within 2 days of the onset of |
| killing 50 - 100 million people - far more | | | | symptoms and taken twice a day for 5 days. |
| than were killed in the war. | | | | These drugs are in very short supply, |
| | | | especially Tamiflu which is considered the |
| This time it will be much worse. After all, | | | | drug of first choice. You should attempt to |
| we now have 4 times the number of people | | | | secure enough for your family as soon as |
| living on the planet. And most of them live | | | | possible, since once a pandemic hits they |
| in cities. Large, crowded cities. The five | | | | will be impossible to obtain. Currently you |
| largest cities in the world have over 100 | | | | should be able to buy them at your drug |
| million people living in them. A killer | | | | store, or you can order them online. |
| virus that can be passed from human to human, | | | | |
| let loose in our major cities where people | | | | 8. Stock up on Face Masks. You will need to |
| are living elbow to elbow, would have a | | | | wear these when you absolutely have to come |
| catastrophic effect. | | | | into close contact with others. It's likely |
| | | | that any public businesses or government |
| And consider this...back in 1918 it was a | | | | offices that remain open will make it |
| much bigger world. It took weeks to get from | | | | mandatory that you wear a mask before |
| one side of the world to the other. It took | | | | entering. Make sure that your mask has a |
| days to get from one side of the continent to | | | | rating of N100. The more common N95 masks |
| the next. Today it takes hours. Last year | | | | will not give you enough protection. |
| more than 46 million international visitors | | | | |
| came to the United States. If only one | | | | There is one mask -- the NanoMask(R) -- which |
| infected visitor passes on the virus to 2 | | | | not only blocks the H5N1 virus, but kills it |
| others, who pass it on to 2 others, and so | | | | as well. |
| on, by the end of a month everyone in the US | | | | |
| could be infected. | | | | 9. Exercise. According to the American |
| | | | Council on Exercise, research has shown that |
| I don't even want to consider the | | | | moderate exercise (such as brisk walking) |
| implications if this idea ever occurs to | | | | brings about measurable changes in the immune |
| muslim terrorists who are only too happy to | | | | system, sending white blood cells zipping |
| blow themselves to bits in order to take out | | | | around the body to find intruders and kill |
| a few infidels. | | | | them. But after a few hours, the immune |
| | | | system returns to normal so it's best to |
| So what can we do? | | | | exercise regularly. |
| | | | |
| Fortunately it's not all doom and gloom. | | | | 10. Spread the Word. Regardless of how much |
| There are some very specific steps you can | | | | coverage the avian threat is receiving in the |
| take to minimize the dangers and protect | | | | media, most people are reluctant to act. |
| yourself and your loved ones. | | | | Perhaps if they don't acknowledge the danger |
| | | | they think it will somehow go away. Or maybe |
| 1. Draw up a Plan. Outline the steps you and | | | | they think the government will look after the |
| your family need to take, both pre-pandemic | | | | situation. |
| and during. Identify responsibilities for | | | | |
| each family member. Make lists of supplies | | | | Desperate, panic stricken people are arguably |
| required. Find appropriate sources. Develop a | | | | even more dangerous than the virus. The more |
| realistic timeline. By establishing a plan | | | | people surrounding you who are prepared for |
| now, you will avoid becoming a victim of the | | | | the pandemic, the safer you will be. You'll |
| panic that will grip the general population, | | | | be secure in the knowledge that your |
| resulting in civil chaos and pandemonium. | | | | neighbors won't be eyeing your resources. So |
| | | | please spread the word. And don't give up, |
| 2. Keep Informed. If and when the virus | | | | even though you may feel like the voice in |
| mutates so that it is being spread from human | | | | the wilderness. Eventually, if they hear it |
| to human, it is likely to start in Southeast | | | | often enough, some people will take notice. |
| Asia. Pay attention to the news. When you | | | | And then they will also spread the word. And |
| hear that this has taken place, it's time to | | | | in this way we'll all be a little safer. |
| act. We might only have weeks before the | | | | |
| pandemic reaches North America, but with | | | | "Up to one billion people could die around |
| international travel so fast and easy it | | | | the whole world in six months.... We are half |
| could be much sooner. Sign up for free | | | | a step away from a worldwide pandemic |
| newsletter notifications at . | | | | catastrophe." Dmitry K. Lvov, Director, D.I. |
| | | | Ivanovsky Institute of Virology, Russian |
| 3. Prepare Your Child for Home Schooling. | | | | Academy of Medical Sciences. |
| Most flu outbreaks get their start at | | | | |
| schools. You can be certain that the schools | | | | Whether or not it will happen this year, and |
| will be closed. And if they're not, you | | | | whether or not it will be as catastrophic as |
| should give very serious thought to keeping | | | | many virologists are predicting, one thing is |
| your children at home. | | | | clear: There WILL be a pandemic of |
| | | | unimaginable proportions some time soon. |
| 4. Minimize Contact with Others. The H5N1 | | | | |
| avian flu virus can be transmitted for two | | | | We can either bury our heads in the sand and |
| days before a person is showing any symptoms | | | | hope it won't happen, or we can begin taking |
| and for a week after symptoms have | | | | immediate steps to ensure that in a worst |
| disappeared. You never know who isn't and who | | | | case scenario, we've given ourselves and our |
| might be infected. If possible you should | | | | loved ones the best possible chance for |
| stay home. Every time you go into an area | | | | survival. |