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