Survival Initiative. Brief description of Bird Flu. (Avian Influenza & H5N1)

Precautions - Sensible suggestions. How to reduce your chances of H5N1 infection

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H5N1 Uninfected Regions

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If the Human Infective form emerges

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Precautions

General

Short of total isolation, there is no single magic bullet to prevent personal infection by H5N1 Influenza in the event of a fully human infective mutation emerging. However, should this mutation occur, it makes sense to try and delay the infection for as long as possible, to allow time for the development, production and distribution of effective vaccines.

This article will soon include three sections but to speed up the rollout we have just the first here (Update Thursday night) -

1) Regions free of H5n1 infection
2) Regions infected by the disease
3) If the Human infective form materializes

Even if there is no infection around you should start to address issues of basic hygiene and precautions that will become second nature as and when the virus arrives. Our Philosophy is to help in the development of "Self Reliance" and "Personal Responsibility", attributes that will increase your chances of survival, particularly in the event of a breakdown in social & economic structures and utilities. This may sound a bit alarmist but a pragmatic look at the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina shows just how vulnerable even modern social infrastructure is. The reality is that an Influenza Pandemic of the scale and type of the 1918 disaster would paralyze many industries and countries on a scale unheard of in modern times. Those people emerging intact will be either lucky or more likely to be those that managed the situation through resourcefulness and keeping a cool head without panicking.

We will also be approaching this in a slightly different way than other similar efforts. Many of the precautions will seem so basic and obvious to many folk, that we will try and give some stats and background to illustrate just how important they are. Where possible, they will be in strict order of priority, with the most important first.

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Before H5N1 arrives in your region

There is an Urban Myth going around that reckoned that the manufacturers & distributors of Sticky Tape fabricated a panic situation during the Anthrax Terrorism scare in 2004 to clear their surplus stocks. I suppose from a purely business perspective it would be quite a good idea, however unethical. Fortunately we are not selling or advertising anything so we would have nothing to gain from this strategy. Part of our intended Rollout program will address issues of predatory business practices but that must not detract from our suggestions to stock up with some items. As recommended on many US agency sites, any accumulation of goods should be in a regular methodical way, rather than a panic rush. For most of us there is no rush, so why overload the system and your Bank Account by filling the basement with a year's supply of Baked Beans.

I think you get our drift. Take it easy, learn and practice patience. Keep cool and live another day. Don't become paranoid, just keep a healthy balance.

1) Wash your hands frequently	Particularly when handling food and eating utensils, after using the toilet and blowing your nose.	Almost 60% of infections are acquired from "Surface - Hand - Mouth" transmission. This should be normal practice but in today's fast world we often forget. Develop the habit and teach your kids good basic hygiene.
2) Identify high risk infection zones	Think through your own habits and observe other people to identify risk areas	Toilet seats seem to be a favourite but the highest risk infection zones are taps, hand dryer on/off buttons and toilet door handles, because these are items you touch after you have washed your hands but where other people may not have bothered. The toilet seat is actually cleaner than the average office desk!
3) Always cook meat thoroughly	Particularly poultry but should apply today with all commercially produced meat	The development of high density farming methods and food processing means that any infections can rapidly contaminate large quantities. Research has suggested that these environments are be ideal breeding grounds for disease, when controls become relaxed.
4) Prevent cross contamination	Cooked & fresh foods can easily become contaminated from raw meat.	Standard commercial food hygiene regulations state that raw meat should always be stored below cooked meat & salad vegetables to prevent contamination from blood/fluid drippings. Think this through and you will see how easy it is to cross contaminate. Unwashed hands, using kitchen implements and utensils for both etc.
5) Do not touch any dead birds	Report any suspicious dead birds to the appropriate authorities. This advice now applies worldwide. These include Geese, Swans, Ducks, Waders and unusual Multiple deaths.	More than a dozen countries have recently discovered H5N1 after people reported unusual incidents of dead wild birds. Doing this allows the rapid mobilisation of containment measures to control the disease amongst poultry and people. Some shortsighted Bird Lovers view this as some kind of attack on wild birds. Get real! A report will be looking at this issue soon.
6) Handle Wild birds with caution	If you do handle bird life then take care. Wear disposable gloves, don't put your hand to your mouth and scrub up afterwards.	It is now generally accepted that much of the spread of this disease is through bird migration. High density poultry farming then becomes the next breeding colony. Human infection comes from excessive handling of birds but can be limited by adequate controls.
7) Get basic hygiene stocks in	This is low key but a precaution in the event of H5N1 arriving in your area.	These should include Disposable rubber gloves, a couple of pairs of Heavy Duty Rubber Gloves, Antiseptic Wet Wipes (including small handy packs if you can get them), Antiseptic or Alcohol handwash and a good general purpose Domestic Concentrated Disinfectant. We are not ignoring Developing Countries where many of these items are unavailable. The most important and normally available items are Concentrated Domestic Disinfectant and Heavy Duty Rubber Gloves.
8) Slowly collect essentials	We expect big negative reactions here but many National agencies are starting to recommend this approach, including the World Health Organisation (We hear)	The developing strategy for containing a Human form of H5N1, if it emerges, is to enforce Personal Quarantine situations. The expectation is that a 1918 Influenza type outbreak would totally overwhelm the health, manufacturing and distribution infrastructure of most countries. Rather than have a mad panic at the last minute, it is recommended that people gradually build up stocks of essential items so they can remain moderately isolated if necessary. When you shop just pick up that extra can of something important. Forget the frozen stuff because one blackout would destroy the lot.
9) Medication? Only a Flu Jab!	A basic flu jab will help in the event of a double Seasonal Flu infection with another Influenza type. At least the seasonal Flu will be nailed.	All this talk about Antivirals is giving people the idea that it is a Magic Bullet to save yourself. Forget it. It is very effective in very specific situations but most of us would not know when, how or why we would use it. There will be many predators emerging from the slime, trying to make a buck from selling this stuff or, more likely, some counterfeit rubbish. Don't even go there. The chances are that, if you end up in an infected zone, your National health service will give you the stuff anyway. The WHO has already supplied several batches to Underdeveloped countries to enable them to Ring-Fence infection zones. Just get yourself at the front of the queue for the Vaccine when it is developed.