WHO urges governments to prepare for swine flu pandemic

[Guest guest]

Hi Don, Did you see this? Everyone had better buys face masks and supplies

before there is a run on these items:

WHO urges governments to prepare for swine flu pandemic

UN health commission warns spread of virus could be disastrous for world's

poorest countries

* McGreal in Washington and Rory Carroll in Mexico City

* guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 28 April 2009 19.07 BST

Mexico City's mayor, Marcelo Ebrard, ordered the closure of gyms, sports clubs

and swimming pools. Schools, theatres and many other public places are already

shut and the city authorities are considering closing the extensive underground

system.

Mexicans stripped supermarket shelves bare today in a burst of panic shopping

amid fears the flu epidemic could force a nationwide lockdown...

Although the flu season is passing in the northern hemisphere, the onset of

winter in southern Africa and parts of South America means that the impact of

any pandemic could be particularly severe on countries with fragile, and in the

case of Zimbabwe and parts of Mozambique, almost non-existent health services...

Families with masks stocked up on bottled water, tinned food, vegetables and

citric fruit in case they needed to stay at home and wait out the emergency.

" Best to get it while you can, " said Lozano, 37, sweating from the weight

of shopping bags in Mexico City's Colonia Roma district.

The authorities ordered all restaurants in Mexico City - there are over 30,000 -

to serve only take-out food to reduce the risk from people congregating to eat.

Many restaurants did not open at all. Congress and courts operated but sessions

were closed to the public.

For the third consecutive day pharmacies were sold out of face masks, prompting

media advice on how to make home-made versions with cloth and tape.

The health minister, Angel Cordova, said 400,000 doses of antivirals to

treat flu would be distributed but appealed to doctors to prescribe them with

caution to avoid a resistant strain developing. The authorities urged people not

to buy antivirals online.

US health officials say a swine flu vaccine could be ready early next month but

it will still take several months to complete safety tests, manufacture and

distribute.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/28/swine-flu-who-pandemic-usa-mexico

[Guest guest]

I hadn't seen it but it isn't surprising. I bought two boxes of surgical masks

at Walgreens on Saturday and three months worth of food at Costco on Sunday. I

also got the Tamiflu prescription that has been lingering in my wallet for two

months filled on Saturday. Neither the checkout person at Costco nor the person

who filled my prescription had heard of swine flu, by the way. I am sure that

has changed by now though. I would also be surprised if there are still masks

on the shelves but this isn't Mexico City so who knows.

>

> Hi Don, Did you see this? Everyone had better buys face masks and supplies

before there is a run on these items:

>

> WHO urges governments to prepare for swine flu pandemic

> UN health commission warns spread of virus could be disastrous for world's

poorest countries

> * McGreal in Washington and Rory Carroll in Mexico City

> * guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 28 April 2009 19.07 BST

> Mexico City's mayor, Marcelo Ebrard, ordered the closure of gyms, sports clubs

and swimming pools. Schools, theatres and many other public places are already

shut and the city authorities are considering closing the extensive underground

system.

>

> Mexicans stripped supermarket shelves bare today in a burst of panic shopping

amid fears the flu epidemic could force a nationwide lockdown...

>

> Although the flu season is passing in the northern hemisphere, the onset of

winter in southern Africa and parts of South America means that the impact of

any pandemic could be particularly severe on countries with fragile, and in the

case of Zimbabwe and parts of Mozambique, almost non-existent health services...

>

> Families with masks stocked up on bottled water, tinned food, vegetables and

citric fruit in case they needed to stay at home and wait out the emergency.

>

> " Best to get it while you can, " said Lozano, 37, sweating from the weight

of shopping bags in Mexico City's Colonia Roma district.

>

> The authorities ordered all restaurants in Mexico City - there are over 30,000

- to serve only take-out food to reduce the risk from people congregating to

eat. Many restaurants did not open at all. Congress and courts operated but

sessions were closed to the public.

>

> For the third consecutive day pharmacies were sold out of face masks,

prompting media advice on how to make home-made versions with cloth and tape.

>

> The health minister, Angel Cordova, said 400,000 doses of antivirals to

treat flu would be distributed but appealed to doctors to prescribe them with

caution to avoid a resistant strain developing. The authorities urged people not

to buy antivirals online.

>

> US health officials say a swine flu vaccine could be ready early next month

but it will still take several months to complete safety tests, manufacture and

distribute.

> http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/apr/28/swine-flu-who-pandemic-usa-mexico

>

[Guest guest]

I've checked our emergency food supply and it looks like we could hold out OK if we ration ourselves carefully. My next shopping at Walgreen's will include a goodly supply of masks. We may never need to use the masks or the emergency food, but it's silly not to have them on hand just in case.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Eleanor Roosevelt

From: <rumjal@...>Subject: [Flu] WHO urges governments to prepare for swine flu pandemicFlu Date: Tuesday, April 28, 2009, 1:52 PM

WHO urges governments to prepare for swine flu pandemicUN health commission warns spread of virus could be disastrous for world's poorest countries* McGreal in Washington and Rory Carroll in Mexico City* guardian.co. uk, Tuesday 28 April 2009 19.07 BSTMexico City's mayor, Marcelo Ebrard, ordered the closure of gyms, sports clubs and swimming pools. Schools, theatres and many other public places are already shut and the city authorities are considering closing the extensive underground system.Mexicans stripped supermarket shelves bare today in a burst of panic shopping amid fears the flu epidemic could force a nationwide lockdown...Although the flu season is passing in the northern hemisphere, the onset of winter in southern Africa and parts of South America means that the impact of any pandemic could be particularly severe on countries with fragile, and in the case of Zimbabwe and parts of Mozambique, almost

non-existent health services...Families with masks stocked up on bottled water, tinned food, vegetables and citric fruit in case they needed to stay at home and wait out the emergency."Best to get it while you can," said Lozano, 37, sweating from the weight of shopping bags in Mexico City's Colonia Roma district.The authorities ordered all restaurants in Mexico City - there are over 30,000 - to serve only take-out food to reduce the risk from people congregating to eat. Many restaurants did not open at all. Congress and courts operated but sessions were closed to the public.For the third consecutive day pharmacies were sold out of face masks, prompting media advice on how to make home-made versions with cloth and tape.The health minister, Angel Cordova, said 400,000 doses of antivirals to treat flu would be distributed but appealed to doctors to prescribe them with caution to avoid a resistant strain

developing. The authorities urged people not to buy antivirals online.US health officials say a swine flu vaccine could be ready early next month but it will still take several months to complete safety tests, manufacture and distribute.http://www.guardian .co.uk/world/ 2009/apr/ 28/swine- flu-who-pandemic -usa-mexico