How to Keep Your Family Safe From Bird Flu

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HHS webcast went well and will be archived for re-viewing next week.
There is a good wikipedia entry for the spread of H5N1 around the world affecting birds, people, cats and other animals.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_spread_of_H5N1
HHS webcast comments are on Twitter.
Next webcast is Feb 18th. Border closings will be in a future webcast sometime in the future.

Kobie of WA 8:09PM January 28, 2009

Bird flu claims another victum in China. Source is the WHO:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/cases_table_2009_01_24/en/index.html
Report to the US department of Homeland Security rates pandemic preparedness by state.
Please read page 15 to see how your state rates.
http://pandemicflu.gov/plan/states/state_assessment.html
It is not how prepared the state is. It is how prepared you are.
Be prepared not scared.

Kobie of WA 6:02PM January 24, 2009

Bird flu claims another victum in China. Source is the WHO:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/cases_table_2009_01_24/en/index.html
Report to the US department of Homeland Security rates pandemic preparedness by state.
Please read page 15 to see how your state rates.
http://pandemicflu.gov/plan/states/state_assessment.html
It is not how prepared the state is. It is how prepared you are.
Be prepared not scared.

Kobie of WA 6:01PM January 24, 2009

Bird flu claims another victum in China. Source is the WHO:
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/cases_table_2009_01_24/en/index.html
Report to the US department of Homeland Security rates pandemic preparedness by state.
Please read page 15 to see how your state rates.
http://pandemicflu.gov/plan/states/state_assessment.html
It is not how prepared the state is. It is how prepared you are.
Be prepared not scared.

Kobie of WA 5:59PM January 24, 2009

Nancy,
Hopefuly Tamiflu will help. Childres doeses are also being stockpiles though dose for two years and younger has not been set as far as I know. Ask your doctor.
The WHO has updated their chart with three cases - one death and another case in Egypt. Source: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/en/
H5N1 has alos spread to Nepal.
Be prepared not scared.
Kobie

Kobie of WA 4:17PM January 19, 2009

You're right, there's no reason not to stock Tamiflu; I've got some tucked away myself, though I think it's probably expired by now. And government efforts aren't nearly what they should be; I'm presuming that those of us who aren't in Congress won't see any. But surveillance in particular is so much better than it was even two years ago. I'm not arguing complacency. I know I am powerless against bad bugs. With pandemic flu, as with any other disaster, our best defense will be to be self-sufficient, and ready to help others in the community.
Nancy

Nancy Shute of DC 2:26PM January 13, 2009

Egyption 21 month old girl confirmed with H5N1 yesterday. Source: http://in.reuters.com/article/health/idINTRE50B6BB20090112
H5N1 continues to spread - do prepare.
Along with flash lights, batteries, etc is walking. Walking keeps you in shape, healthy and even connected with people in the neighborhood. Its the people in the neighborhood you will spend a disaster with.
Be preapred, be knowledgeable.
Kobie

Kobie of WA 1:55PM January 13, 2009

You may find helpful practical advice, as well as comments on developments which help you put them into context at my www.PandemicBulletin.com There have been very few developments in the past few months but most experts agree that that should not be taken to mean that the threat of an avian flu pandemic has disappeared.

Michael I. Selzer, PhD of AZ 10:26AM January 12, 2009

Do not forget that part of pandemic planning is to close schools, malls, day care for the duration - up to eight weeks.
Here kids will need to be safe at home. Busy kids are not only safe but learning.
Support begins at home where friends and neighbors can support each other. Flu travels fastest when different groups mingle. If a group stays with itself and limits outside contact they limit the risk of catching H5N1 or what ever causes the next pandemic.
Just another heads up.
Kobie

Kobie of WA 4:40PM January 11, 2009

Jeff,
Your numbers are pretty close. There are 393 confirmed cases with 248 dead. Viet Nam and others have some cases where samples where not taken so lets stick to 393.
Source World Health Organization at: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/cases_table_2009_01_07/en/index.html
As for travel the US state department just says get your vaccinations up to date and avoid wet markets.
Jeff I am more worried about the economy affecting travel than H5N1, drug resistant TB from a passenger or SARS. I think other people out there are too.
H5N1 is not just an Asia nor Indonesia problem.
Lets keep things in perspective. The government, our government, is saying get prepared. People who have prepared say it makes sense and has saved money. OSHA has saind employers are legaly responsible for making the work place, your work place Jeff, safe.
Please see page two (2) of the OSHA guidelines for non health care worker at http://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3327pandemic.pdf
I understand you feel I am yelling fire, er sorry, FIRE, in a theater but yes I smell smoke and can see the sparks starting. No H5N1 may not cause the next pandemic but do know pandemics happen about three (3) per century.
Be prepared - no scared
Do not let H5N1 stop you but motivate you
My own words of wisdom: "Those who are prepared suffer less than those who are not"
Jeff let me ask one question - people could be wrong. Why are we better off not knowing about H5N1 or not talking about it??
Kind regards.
Kobie

Kobie of WA 3:34PM January 09, 2009