Introduction - My Scenario

[Guest guest]

Greetings,

I just joined this group and thought I'd take the opportunity to

introduce myself a bit, as well as my believes, opinions and

experiences concerning the impending Flu Pandemic a whole lot more.

I'd like to thank Lee for creating and maintaining this group.

Absolutely outstanding !

This posting is a Welcome – Introduction to my own group, but I

think it'll fit here perfectly, in spite that similar might have

been posted here before:

Following the developments of the spreading Avian (Bird) Flu for

more then a year now, my interest intensified right after the

Hurricane Katrina Debacle. Having always kept at least a 3 day

supply on food and water in my house, Katrina made clear that a 3

day supply is grossly insufficient for any possible disaster or

shortage.

With the Katrina Debacle the last naïve trust and confidence in

government help for disasters was greatly diminished, which led to a

further examination of a possibly impending Flu Pandemic, and the

realization of unprepared governments, the in case of a Pandemic

hopelessly overwhelmed Health Organizations and Medical Care.

" An influenza pandemic of even moderate impact will result in the

biggest single human disaster ever - far greater than AIDS, 9/11,

all wars in the 20th century and the recent tsunami combined. It has

the potential to redirect world history as the Black Death

redirected European history in the 14th century. "

-- T. Osterholm, Director, Center for Infectious Disease

Research

After examination of the current Bird Flu Facts, the capability (or

lack thereof) of Governments and Health Organizations, not only in

the US but Worldwide, it became farsightedly clear that the only

sensible, logical step to increase one's chances to survive a

possible Flu Pandemic, is to urgently start getting prepared now.

I personally believe that a disastrous and deadly Flu Pandemic is

inevitable and impending, and that no Governments or Health

Organization are and cannot be properly prepared, and will fall way

short of being able to prevent disaster.

I, in agreement with our Government and Health Organizations, would

expect up to 100 Million ill and infected Americans, possibly

Billions world wide, with up to 2 – 10 Million deaths in the US

alone, possibly Hundreds of Millions deaths worldwide.

Currently the Avian (Bird) Flu is mostly transferable from Birds to

Humans and only very hard (if at all) transferable between Humans,

but Health Experts and Scientists fear that the virus will mutate

and become easily transferable between Humans. At this time, the

Avian (Bird) Flu has a mortality rate of at least %50, which Health

Experts and Scientists hope will lower as the virus mutates.

A Flu Vaccine to protect from infection can unfortunately only be

developed after the virus has mutated and a Pandemic Outbreak has

taken place, and will take between 3-9 month to develop. Production

of enough Vaccine for everyone, might take years, provided the virus

does not continue to mutate, as it probably will.

The two Anti-Viral drugs, " Tamiflu " and " Relenza " which experts hope

will lessen the symptoms and hopefully safe some lives of those

infected, are already in short supply, and first cases of virus

resistant and immune to those drugs have already appeared.

Any deadly widespread Flu Pandemic, would in my opinion, inevitably

result in serious Food Shortages - Gasoline Rationing - Social Order

Breakdown – Water Contamination – Prolonged Power Outages - Schools

Closed - Looting - Government Offices closed - High Crime - No

Medical Help - Overwhelmed Hospitals - Anarchy - Martial Law - No

Income - Illness and Death - Quarantines - Economic Breakdown -

Panic in the streets.

National and Worldwide, many additional deaths would very well be

the result of starvation, dehydration, looting and crime, general

lawlessness and anarchy, the lack of medical care or prescription

drugs, as well as possible secondary epidemics like Typhus and

Cholera, not to mention untreated heart attacks, strokes, etc.

It is my utmost believe that the only way to increase one's chances

of survival of a Flu Pandemic is to isolate and quarantine oneself

and his loved ones, stay away from other people, and prepare oneself

for at least 6-12 month of duration.

Preparation must be started now. It will be too late once there is

an outbreak with possible panic: Preferable Isolated Housing; Food

Supplies; Protective Supplies; Medical Supplies; Household Supplies;

Alternative Energy; Alternative Remedies; Medical and First Aid

Supplies;

Finally I need to state, that I am no Health Expert or Professional

and no Scientist, and that most of my knowledge of the Influenza

H5N1 Virus comes from the Internet and Media Information, to which I

have posted the very best links I found, on a recent published link

page: http://members.aol.com/TheFluMaster/index.htm

Blessings,

Mister E.

http://members.aol.com/TheFluMaster/index.htm

[Guest guest]

Hi and welcome to the group! Thanks for this post and you are quite

right: we cannot rely neither on the government to bail us out in a

disaster nor on private charities such as the Red Cross. We can hope

that they will eventually do something, but we cannot be sure that they

will. It is indeed best to be prepared.

[Guest guest]

If I had to choose between the government and private charities, I'd go with the private charities first. They always seem to know what they're doing; but you're right in that people need to be appropriately prepared.Lee <jackalope_lepus@...> wrote: Hi and welcome to the group! Thanks for this post and you are quite right: we cannot rely neither on the government to bail us out in a disaster nor on private charities such as the Red Cross. We can hope that they will eventually do something, but we cannot be sure that they will. It is indeed best to be prepared. . Never place a period where God has placed a comma. - Gracie . Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. -Dr.Seuss . It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing. - Duke Ellington