Confirmed cases of swine flu worldwide increased to 257 on Thursday, quite a jump from yesterday’s 147. In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it has confirmed 109 cases of swine flu, (now being “politically correctly” referred to as 2009 H1N1), in 11 states, an increase of 18 from its previous total. The latest tally was announced one day after WHO raised the pandemic threat level to 5 on a six-step scale.WHO did not change the threat level Thursday, and right now, there seems to be nothing epidemiologically pointing toward a Phase 6 declaration.
While this is good news so far, do not let your guard down. In each of the four major pandemics since 1889, a spring wave of relatively mild illness was followed by a second wave a few months later of a much more virulent disease. For those of you that have been to a Chasing4Life “Bug’s Life” program, you already know that these waves make it difficult for vaccinations to be created before the virus mutates.
This wave situation was true in 1889, 1957, 1968 and of course in the 1918 outbreak that sickened an estimated one third of the world’s population and killed about 50 million!
Outbreaks and Pandemics are serious situations and require the world’s brightest minds to do battle, but there is so much you can do at home and at work as well. Historically, the very best weapon has always been common sense, with proof that the simplest things make all the difference including washing your hands, covering your mouth when you cough and just staying home from work or school when you are sick. Many towns throughout history were untouched by flu viruses because the residents simply decided to not travel and they quarantined themselves when ill.
Do you have a plan for different disasters in your home? Do you have a good communication plan? How much do you do online now and how many more things could be done to limit contact with those that might be ill? Should the “2009 H1N1” situation get worse, are you ready to limit travel and trips to the store?
Today, we added something to our shopping list. Amidst the diapers and toilet paper, shampoo and fish sticks, we added “1 box disposable medical masks”. They weren’t cheap! Cost for a box was around $12, but they were right there in WalMart. Now, I am hoping we don’t need them. Probably won’t; but until we know, we’re gonna make sure we have a few boxes handy.
Start thinking about what might be in demand. What might be a little harder to get. What changes would you have to make if we suddenly found ourselves in a full-blown pandemic?
Not to depress you too much, but while I have your attention, have you had a tornado drill at your house yet? Its May in Nebraska you know.
