Avian Flu

Avian Flu

This avian flu blog offers practical resources to help your family prepare and survive the H5N1 avian flu pandemic.

2/16/06 SYDNEY, Australia (CNN) -- As many as 142 million people around the world could die if bird flu turns into a "worst case" influenza pandemic, according to a sobering new study of its possible consequences.

And global economic losses could run to $4.4 trillion -- the equivalent of wiping out the Japanese economy's annual output. The study... says even a mild pandemic could kill 1.4 million people and cost $330 billion.

If you follow the bird flu news on the Internet or on television, you will quickly discover that it isn't just a bunch of extremists and lunatics doing Chicken Little Impressions. The experts say a pandemic is coming. Not if, but when.

3/15/06 Top Bush administration officials are bracing for the arrival of the feared H5N1 strain of avian influenza into the United States within a matter of months, with the virus most likely to be carried here by migratory birds, the same way it has spread from Southeast Asia to Europe and Africa.

Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, repeating a warning he issued from Washington the day before, told reporters in San Francisco on Tuesday that it was "highly probable" that within just a few months, a wild bird would bring the virus to North America.The Department of Homeland Security estimates that businesses might lose as much as 40 percent of their work force if there is a severe Bird Flu pandemic, as employees take sick leave or stay home to avoid infection.

With such an acute workforce shortage - one like we have never seen before - this is what the government is telling us we can expect:

• Electricity outages - employees are needed to operate and repair power plantsWater contamination - without electricity filtering plants can't operate properly
• Food shortages - most grocery stores only have a 3 to 4 day supply and without regular deliveries being made shortages will quickly happen.
• Medical Shortages - hospitals will quickly become overwhelmed with patients. Shortages of personnel and supplies will force doctors to make triage decisions that are unthinkable in our modern day of medicine.

Experts expect that public gatherings, schools, sporting events and religious services will be closed or canceled to help stop the spread of the deadly avian flu virus. One of the most effective ways to protect yourself and your family will be to simply quarantine yourself at home.

How Long Could You Survive Without Leaving Your Home?

Do you have enough water, food and supplies to last you at least 6 weeks? Or preferably for 3 months? Think about when the flu passes through your community each winter. Do your kids ever get it once and then sometimes again 6 weeks later? It takes a while for a virus to completely work its way through a community. You'll need to be able to survive that entire period from your home. And you must be able to survive with or without electricity.

The time to get the supplies you need is now. Not after your local 5:00PM News announces that the bird flu has hit your community. By then it will be too late.

Here's one example of why you can't wait until the last minute to prepare...

There are companies that make food that has been specially prepared for long shelf lifes. Emergency food supplies like these are ALWAYS IN SHORT SUPPLY. In fact, if you called every company in America that offers long storing foods (freeze-dried, dehydrated, mre's, etc) on any given day, and you asked for immediate shipment of EVERYTHING they had you might get a year's supply for 35 people. That's all companies combined! Since there are about 300 million Americans, what do you think your chances are of getting the supplies you need once EVERYONE realizes they need it?

A testimonial from one survival food manufacturer's site:

AfterHurricane Katrina (August 2005), we sold out of every food unit we offered within a few days. One large corporation came in and BOUGHT EVERY mre meal we had within hours of the hurricane hitting land.

Hopefully you get the idea. The time to buy fire insurance isn't when your home is on fire. This blog is a practical guide to preparing for the bird flu pandemic without going overboard and spending a fortune.

As this blog develops you won't find gibberish on how to catch a bear in the woods using a shoe string. You won’t see any diagrams for building a fall-out shelter or converting your home to solar power. Instead you'll find reviews and recommendations of the most affordable resources all in one place so you can easily prepare for this pandemic.

The plan is to be prepared so you don't have to panic. Stay tuned for the next posting, or for more information check out a great book I found on preparing avian flu at: http://birdflufamilysurvival.com

Avian Flu