US gov urges Americans to stockpile food & meds for pandemic 1/7/06

[fastfreddy]

The federal government on Friday urged Americans to stockpile food and medicine in an effort to prepare for what officials warn could be widespread disruptions in the event of an influenza pandemic.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,180914,00.html

['TUDE]

Sheeple scare tactic.

My wife was a major contributor to a recent study by health departments in this part of the state. The basis of the study was to confirm that the amount of patients who tested positive nationwide had in fact declined compared to the 5 years prior.
Of the many hospitals, clinics, and offices she tests for, there were an overall decrease in positive cases by somewhere around 23%. Very significant to say the least.

Funny though, as we both just got over the flu!

[Treborer]

Maybe there are other reasons for the suggestion. Unmentionable Present Dangers, That does make me worried.

Maybe sales are down.

I do think the "Bird Flu" is a crock, unless your a bird.

Thanks.:beer:

I am going to heed thier suggestion.

Thanks for the "Heads Up"
:bigangel:

[medbill]

I don't think its a bad idea regardless of the bird flu or anything else. Be smart and be prepared. Winter is here, what happens if the lights go out? We take a lot for granted.

I have a bicycle generator next to my computer so I will still be in contact when the Martians land! :p

[Da Nerd]

It is the administration method of keeping the economy strong by making people buy stuff they don't need..:biggrin:

[JoeLad]

Mother Nature culling the herd. Just to hedge my bets, it may be a good time to lay in some good quality masks...

JoeLad:D

[Treborer]

I worked in NORAD for 11 years , and for other National agencies for more than that space and time.
Right now, I think would be a good time to take the Gov. suggestion.

I'm just sorry I can't do like Slim Pickens in Dr.Strangelove and ride that bomb home.

Met Slim once, he lived in a small mountain town on the west slope of the Sierra Mtns, Stawberry I think it was, got overcrowded now.

Mark Twain wrote about the region, something about Frog Jumping in Calaveras county.

I have always found Mark Twain good reading when in stressful work.

God Bless America.

:| :whiskey:

[Enquiring Minds]

If you've lived in hurricane zones these last 2 years, such recommendations are redundant. My stockpiles bottomed out around Christmas, and are already on the rebuild... EVERYTHING edible gets rotated/donated in 24 months or less, meds 48 months or less.

Depending on FEMA is a coward's suicide.

[StrongMedicine]

Check out the Whitehouse report on how they are going to deal with a pandemic.http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/pandemic-influenza.html

Go down to Pillar Three, where it talks about quarantine. If this shit happens they'll shut down entire states or regions, not just a city or town.

They stick a pin in the map at the influenza site and put a 500 mile circle around it and lock everyone down. Most everyone in that zone will be a:sleep: ie, not prepared.

Kicker is, it will spread beyond any quarantine. That is when the shit will really get deep.

Not a pretty thought about what will happen for those not ready.

For those ready, it is a, "Good Lord Willin and Crick don't rise" event.

Out,
SM

[mosbysmen]

so far 50% of the people who have gotten bird flu are dead..
thats pretty dam scary to me.
i sure wont be making any trips to the store i dont need to .
if this thing does mutate , it seems to me every time someone catches it is another chance for it to mutate

[Artful]

50% of bird flu victums dead - but how many exposed to get so few with the disease? I wouldn't worry about the lethality until you get a strain that is more univeral (able to infect large numbers of people) - each time a virus changes it hits a different segment of the population to differing degrees - I had the bug back in sept and it laid me out for over a week (some days sleeping 20 of 24 hrs) - a similar strain came back thru the office Thanksgiving had fever but didn't miss work 1 1/2 days it was gone but it hit all the original people plus more people it didn't get the first time round - third time coming round - original folks don't seem to hardly notice it but almost everyone in the office has it. - looks like the virus mutated to touch almost everyone but in doing so is very week compared to the original bug that just knocked a few of us off our pins hard.

That said you should always have rations/ammo/trade goods on hand.:rolleyes:

[StrongMedicine]

Here is the actual HHS preparation statement...It is a policy paper....Go figure.

http://www.hhs.gov/pandemicflu/plan/part1.html


Out,
SM

[cessna-pilot]

Good friend of mine works for the CDC in ATL, she told me over christmas that all the worry is not about the current strain that is spread from birds to humans.

She said Flu viruses can become mutant in a very short time. It could, like in the past, become a person to person strain that would ravage the world similar to what happened in 1918. With the increased media reporting and knowledge of how to contain it, I think most "civilized" countries would see little devastation.

I mean the latest people to die in Turkey were rural people that typically have chickens that live under there beds at night.....
And...By the way, Tami-flu is only about 50% successful according to her, and only with the one bird-human strain....

Gonna keep my eyes on this deal though....:sleep:

[falfred]

Hmmm, my wife just told me that Washoe med here in Reno is overflowing with flu patients, and has had to send patients to other hospitals. Time to buy some masks.

[ephv]

Past time for buying masks. The most effective ones are on back order now. Got mine awhile back. I'm not telling neighbors I have any or I might find the neighborhood in my house someday.

[gunslinger10mm]

From what I have heard, the kids in Turkey that have gotten this flu were playing with the heads of infected, slaughtered fowl. :eek:
I don't know what kinda place that is, but I know of no place like it round here.
Also; I believe that it's a misconception that masks are meant to protect you from catching these things. They're suppose to help prevent the spread.

CJ

[StrongMedicine]

Obvious....

Trust me, We're here to Help You. (http://www.medpagetoday.com/InfectiousDisease/PublicHealth/tb/2461)

[Hunters]

What I see here is a move for the govgod to take over heathcare in the next round of national elections.

Does anyone know how many people die from regular flu bugs right here in the good ole US of A every year? According to the CDC it's around 36,000. So far the "bird flu" has killed some 60 people in a world of 5 billion. It's a non issue being pumped into one so we'll all look to Washington to save us.

I remeber growing up in the sixties fearing the USSR would Nuke Washington, now I fear they wont