Is the Avian Bird Flu a Serious Threat?
Sound Preparation for Avian Bird Flu
There are some individuals who speculate that the Avian bird flu is not the threat that the government has led many of us to believe and it would appear so as the news coverage has died down quite a bit. Still others are incredibly worried about what might happen if the avian bird flu reaches pandemic proportions. While panic is never a good thing, there is quite a bit to be said about being prepared.
The Scare
The Avian bird flu has been compared to the flu of 1918, which killed upwards of 20 million people worldwide. But is this realistic? Will we face a pandemic that kills millions?
The Reality
A pandemic might occur, but things are much different now today than they were 100 years ago. Can we completely prevent it? No. But we can do our part to protect ourselves and our families if (and that is a big IF) the avian bird flu virus mutates.
Wash Your Hands
One line of defense against all viruses, not just the avian bird flu, is hand washing. While hand washing will probably never kill 100% of germs on contact, it does significantly increase sanitation.
Modern commercial soaps claim to kill over 99% of germs on contact. However, the germs they are often referring to are bacteria and not viruses. Regularly washing your hands and using a hand sanitizer when you can't get to a sink are important steps to take year round but especially during cold and flu season.
Prepare Your Home and Family
Preparing for an avian bird flu outbreak is not much unlike preparing for a natural disaster. It is helpful to have a supply of water and nonperishable food on hand. Also, make sure you have a manual can opener and a self-powered flashlight. A crank-powered radio is also a good idea.
If the avian bird flu does culminate to a worst-case scenario, you're going to want the above things on hand so you can avoid venturing from your home unless you absolutely have to.