Duxprep
NES Member
Sorry for the size of this post -
I'm sure many folks are familiar with H5N1 (Avian Flu) and all the hoopla in the news about it a year and 1/2 ago suggesting that if it were to go Pandemic we'd all be screwed. Since then most have forgotten the topic, the MSM (main stream media) certainly has. I, for one have not and have continued to follow the disturbing developments of this disease as well as our government’s and the rest of the world’s leader’s futile efforts to stop it.
The WHO (World Health Organization) and the US government has not been forthcoming to the American people about the developments with this disease as well as how individual families should be preparing themselves.
Some key highlights to share:
1) Currently this disease when contracted by humans has a fatality rate of 63%. Compare that to the 1918 Pandemic that only had a 2.5% fatality in which 150+ million people died. If this were to go Pandemic this would be a SHTF scenario like no other
2) There is NO vaccine and we would not have one to even produce until 6+ months into a pandemic. Then we'd need the time to produce enough for the world which would take years
3) Humans continue to contract this throughout the world, and in Indonesia, Egypt, Iraq and turkey, there have been both suspected and confirmed "clusters" in which it has passed from human to human. This represents a significant step toward a pandemic
4) We live in a global "just in Time" economy" in which the slightest supply chain disruption would have dramatic consequences. What do we still make in the US anyway? (well - my M&P 40 for one!! but not much else)
4) While many businesses and state governments have continued to work on preparedness plans, few of them address the realities of what will happen if a Pandemic with a high case fatality rate hits.
5) the government has provided many templates and checklists to help people prepare http://pandemicflu.gov however in my opinion they don't go far enough nor do they address what will happen to our "just in time" economy" if a pandemic were to hit
5) In February 07, the government released it's recommendations that schools should close for 12 weeks at the onset of a pandemic to limit spread. - Did you know that? Do you have plans for keeping your kids at home?
I could go on and on, but won't. Bottom line is if this were to become a pandemic, you're best bet for survival would be to shelter at home for at least 12 weeks
There are several excellent sources of information that give details on H5N1's progress as well as preparedness. I encourage everyone to find out more.
http://www.fluwikie.com - One of the original sources for H5N1 Pandemic discussion and preparedness planning
http://www.newfluwiki2.com/frontPage.do- New Fluwikie forum - Lots of news hounds aggregate H5NI news from across the globe
http://www.pfiforum.com - Plan for Pandemic Forum
Some notable quotes:
The arrival of a pandemic influenza would trigger a reaction that would change the world overnight. A vaccine would not be available for a number of months after the pandemic started, and there are very limited stockpiles of antiviral drugs. Foreign trade and travel would be reduced or even ended in an attempt to stop the virus from entering new countries. It is likely that transportation would also be significantly curtailed domestically, as smaller communities sought to keep the disease contained.-- Michael T. Osterholm, Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, Associate Director of the Department of Homeland Security's National Center for Food Protection and Defense, and Professor at the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health
“Any community that fails to prepare and expects the federal government will come to the rescue is tragically wrong. It’s not because we don’t care, don’t want to, or don’t have the money, but because it’s logistically impossible,” Michael Levitt - US Secretary of Health and Human Services - This was actually communicated to EVERY state governor during pandemic summits held in each state.
I'm sure many folks are familiar with H5N1 (Avian Flu) and all the hoopla in the news about it a year and 1/2 ago suggesting that if it were to go Pandemic we'd all be screwed. Since then most have forgotten the topic, the MSM (main stream media) certainly has. I, for one have not and have continued to follow the disturbing developments of this disease as well as our government’s and the rest of the world’s leader’s futile efforts to stop it.
The WHO (World Health Organization) and the US government has not been forthcoming to the American people about the developments with this disease as well as how individual families should be preparing themselves.
Some key highlights to share:
1) Currently this disease when contracted by humans has a fatality rate of 63%. Compare that to the 1918 Pandemic that only had a 2.5% fatality in which 150+ million people died. If this were to go Pandemic this would be a SHTF scenario like no other
2) There is NO vaccine and we would not have one to even produce until 6+ months into a pandemic. Then we'd need the time to produce enough for the world which would take years
3) Humans continue to contract this throughout the world, and in Indonesia, Egypt, Iraq and turkey, there have been both suspected and confirmed "clusters" in which it has passed from human to human. This represents a significant step toward a pandemic
4) We live in a global "just in Time" economy" in which the slightest supply chain disruption would have dramatic consequences. What do we still make in the US anyway? (well - my M&P 40 for one!! but not much else)
4) While many businesses and state governments have continued to work on preparedness plans, few of them address the realities of what will happen if a Pandemic with a high case fatality rate hits.
5) the government has provided many templates and checklists to help people prepare http://pandemicflu.gov however in my opinion they don't go far enough nor do they address what will happen to our "just in time" economy" if a pandemic were to hit
5) In February 07, the government released it's recommendations that schools should close for 12 weeks at the onset of a pandemic to limit spread. - Did you know that? Do you have plans for keeping your kids at home?
I could go on and on, but won't. Bottom line is if this were to become a pandemic, you're best bet for survival would be to shelter at home for at least 12 weeks
There are several excellent sources of information that give details on H5N1's progress as well as preparedness. I encourage everyone to find out more.
http://www.fluwikie.com - One of the original sources for H5N1 Pandemic discussion and preparedness planning
http://www.newfluwiki2.com/frontPage.do- New Fluwikie forum - Lots of news hounds aggregate H5NI news from across the globe
http://www.pfiforum.com - Plan for Pandemic Forum
Some notable quotes:
The arrival of a pandemic influenza would trigger a reaction that would change the world overnight. A vaccine would not be available for a number of months after the pandemic started, and there are very limited stockpiles of antiviral drugs. Foreign trade and travel would be reduced or even ended in an attempt to stop the virus from entering new countries. It is likely that transportation would also be significantly curtailed domestically, as smaller communities sought to keep the disease contained.-- Michael T. Osterholm, Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, Associate Director of the Department of Homeland Security's National Center for Food Protection and Defense, and Professor at the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health
“Any community that fails to prepare and expects the federal government will come to the rescue is tragically wrong. It’s not because we don’t care, don’t want to, or don’t have the money, but because it’s logistically impossible,” Michael Levitt - US Secretary of Health and Human Services - This was actually communicated to EVERY state governor during pandemic summits held in each state.