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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 7-Jan-07
Vietnam's bird flu resurgence called a "huge threat to public safety"

Web Log - January, 2007

Vietnam's bird flu resurgence called a "huge threat to public safety"

We're now at the most dangerous time of the year.

Margaret Chan, the new chief of the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that bird flu remains a global threat, and that the danger was particularly severe in poor countries. "We must not let our guard down. We must maintain our vigilance," she said.

The latest warning comes about because of a resurgence of bird flu in Vietnam, after a one-year absence.

Dr. Chan is the first Chinese agency to head WHO. She expects that her Chinese origin will help in dealing with Chinese authorities, who have often been reluctant to reveal the details of bird flu outbreaks. "I think of all people I would be in a better position to work with the Chinese government," she told the BBC.

The new outbreaks come at the worst time of the year. In a few weeks, Vietnam will begin its Lunar New Year festival of Tet, and Chinese will have their Lunar New Year celebrations. Both of these celebrations involve massive increases in handling, transporting and slaughtering poultry. The number of bird flu cases spikes during these celebrations, because of large increases in transportation of potentially infected birds, allowing quick spread to other birds. This intermingled of potentially infected birds also makes this the time when the possibility of a mutation leading to a human bird flu pandemic is most likely to occur.

As I've said before, you and your family should prepare immediately for a possible pandemic. If human to human transmission became public next week on Monday, then by Tuesday all the shelves in grocery stores would be bare. If you stock up on food now, then you'll be sure to have what you need. Even if you think that you can beat the crowds to the grocery store, you should still stock up in advance. If you get your canned food after the panic begins, then you're depriving somebody else of food. But if you stock up in advance, then the shelves will be restocked, and you won't deprive someone else of food.

I once again strongly urge my readers to prepare for an H5N1 pandemic or for any kind of emergency (think of hurricane Katrina) by stocking up on food and water and currency and batteries for the entire household to live on for 2-3 months. This may cost a thousand dollars per person, but it's not wasted money since you can always eat the food later if no emergency occurs. Get canned or dried food that can last a long time in storage, and get a large container for storing water. Keep in mind that stored water becomes impure with time, so you'll also need some purifying tablets or bleach to kill bacteria in the water when the time comes. Finally, get whatever medicines you'll need to take care of yourself and your family for a long period of time. (7-Jan-07) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 7-Jan-07 Vietnam's bird flu resurgence called a "huge threat to public safety"

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 7-Jan-07
Vietnam's bird flu resurgence called a "huge threat to public safety"