Tue, April 28, 2009
Swine Flu and Household Emergency Planning
In recent years, health authorities have been urging that nations and businesses should prepare for the possibility of an avian influenza pandemic. Recent news of a serious swine flu outbreak in Mexico has prompted the World Health Organization to declare a phase 4 pandemic alert, meaning that the potential for community-wide outbreaks has been confirmed, but that a full-blown pandemic is not yet certain.
Concerns over this new influenza strain are widespread, and the U.S. has declared a public health emergency. So far, there are no confirmed cases of A (H1N1) swine flu infection in New England, although several cases have been documented not far away in New York City.
Disaster preparedness is as important for a family as health or auto insurance; a flu pandemic is only one of many possible public emergencies that households anywhere in the US should be prepared for. Aside from the precautions that one would take to avoid the transmission of disease during a pandemic, the preparations that should be made for a possible flu outbreak are similar to those needed to prepare for weather disasters and other catastrophes.
Maintaining a supply of non-perishable food, water, first aid supplies, and needed prescription drugs is a wise strategy even if, as we all hope, the current swine flu outbreak does not reach the level of a pandemic. The Department of Health and Human Services provides a useful checklist for households that wish to be prepared for a serious influenza pandemic.
You may find it useful to scan through my earlier post on this topic, as I offer comments on other items that should be kept in mind when you prepare for disasters.
Related posts:
Are You Prepared for a Disaster?
