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PREPARING FOR AN AVIAN FLU PANDEMIC - IT'S TIME . ARE YOU READY?
This page is dedicated to keeping our military and their loved ones informed about the Avian Flu which will become a pandemic according to all experts at this time, not if...but when is the question. Just scroll down to the 4 simple steps highlighted in yellow at the top and bottom of the page and begin to get ready.
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4 Simple Steps for Individuals and Families
to Prepare without Fear and silly scams:
***
1. Stockpile supplies for 30 days for your family and pets in case you are
quarantined to your home- medications,water,food and flashlights,batteries, soap.
2. Have 1st aid supplies,gloves,trash bags and soap for appropriate hygiene
for family members who might get ill or have to venture into
community for supplies.
3. The N95 masks which are recommended are below as well as a link to directly
order them through a company not affiliated with us but with excellent
prices. You should have a 30 day supply for every adult and child- or at the
very least a 15 day supply as these are disposable.
( Many companies are running low so this is the time to order them)
4. Prepare now and avoid the panic later. Keep a checklist of supplies and have
activities for the children in case there is a quarantine.
You can choose what would work best for you and your family but here
are the popular ones below....Smaller N95 CDC approved masks that could
be used for an older child/young teen but not officially approved for children.
By ordering through this company as we did or any company that carries them (though watch pricing carefully!) , you will be
able to calmly prepare and evaluate your family's needs in case
quarantine occurrs.
You may also decide if the bird flu came to your community to keep your
family at home so this will be vital to be ready for this event.
Consider it like a hurricane or massive snow storm and how for the first
few weeks , families and individuals may have to depend on their own
resources and skills to stay healthy and have basic needs met.
 FOR ADULTS:
1. To buy N95 Respirator Masks (we recommend 3 panel for comfort) -
click here on Allegro Medical icon:
2. Next: click on "Personal Care"
3. Then click on the " Protective Wear " link
4. This comes in boxes of 20 (remember these are disposable and you should have enough for 30 days).
 FOR CHILDREN or smaller faces: 
1. To buy N95 Respirator Masks (choose size SMALL)- click here on Allegro Medical icon:
2. Next: Click on "Personal Care"
3. Then click on the "Protective Wear" Link
4. Then choose N95 Particulate Respirator Mask- SMALL (choose box of 20 or 120)
***
Remember, prepare now and you can relax later
while everyone else panics ......this is the time to
plan and begin to gather your supplies. Make it a
family project and this is a good time to review
proper handwashing skills with everyone in
the family too at home and in the community.
We have begun to prepare in our home and we hope after reading this- you will as well wherever you may live. We have done everything we recommended above and would not encourage anyone to do so otherwise. Once prepared, we can enjoy life and not feel the dread and worry so many feel when hearing about this in the news as it gets closer to us.
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In the News:
Latest update on Pandemic and Masks:
May 3, 2007
This is a special COCA update.
HHS ISSUES INTERIM GUIDANCE FOR THE USE OF FACEMASKS AND RESPIRATORS IN PUBLIC SETTINGS DURING AN INFLUENZA PANDEMIC.
Facemasks and Respirators Could Provide Added Value When Used in Combination with Other Preventive Measures
The Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today released interim advice to the public about the use of facemasks and respirators in certain public (non-occupational) settings during an influenza pandemic. There is very little research about the value of masks to protect people in public settings. These interim recommendations are based on the best judgment of public health experts who relied in part on information about the protective value of masks in healthcare facilities.
The guidance stresses that during an influenza pandemic a combination of actions will be needed, including hand washing, minimizing the likelihood of exposure by distancing people who are infected or likely to be infected with influenza away from others and treating them with antiviral medications, having people who are caring for ill family members voluntarily stay home, and encouraging people to avoid crowded places and large gatherings. When used in conjunction with such preventive steps, masks and respirators may help prevent some spread of influenza.
“Pandemic influenza remains a very real threat. We continue to look for ways to protect people and reduce the spread of disease,” Secretary Mike Leavitt said. “The guidance issued today is a good step forward in the broader, multifaceted federal effort to prepare the nation for an influenza pandemic.”
“During an influenza pandemic, we know that no single action will provide complete protection,” said Dr. Julie Gerberding, CDC director. “We also know that many people may choose to use masks for an extra margin of protection even if there is no proof of their effectiveness. If people are not able to avoid crowded places, large gatherings or are caring for people who are ill, using a facemask or a respirator correctly and consistently could help protect people and reduce the spread of pandemic influenza.”
Gerberding noted that while studies are underway in an effort to learn more about whether masks and respirators can provide protection from influenza and how people would use such things, the CDC guidance was designed to be a “best estimate” based on what is currently known. It is designed to help guide people’s decisions regarding the use of masks.
In the guidance recommends that:
People should consider wearing a facemask during an influenza pandemic if …
· They are sick with the flu and think they might have close contact with other people (within about 6 feet).
· They live with someone who has the flu symptoms (and therefore might be in the early stages of infection) or will be spending time in a crowded public place and thus may be in close contact with infected people. During a pandemic, people should limit the amount of time they spend in crowded places and consider wearing a facemask while they are there.
· They are well and do not expect to be in close contact with a sick person but need to be in a crowded place. Again, people should limit the amount of time they spend in crowded places and wear a facemask while they are there.
People should consider wearing a respirator during an influenza pandemic if…
· They are well and will be, or expect to be, in close contact (within about 6 feet) with people who are known or thought to be sick with pandemic flu. People should limit the amount of time they are in close contact with these people and wear a respirator during this time. These recommendations apply if people are taking care of a sick person at home (and if a respirator is unavailable, use of a mask should be considered).
Dr. Michael Bell, associate director for infection control at CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, noted that facemasks and respirators have different qualities and offer different types and levels of protection. According to Bell, the primary factor that should be considered by a well person before deciding to whether to wear a facemask or a respirator for personal protection during a pandemic is whether close contact is expected with someone who has pandemic influenza.
“Facemasks are not designed to protect people from breathing in very small particles, such as viruses,” said Bell. “Rather, facemasks help stop potentially infectious droplets from being spread by the person wearing them. They also keep splashes or sprays from coughs and sneezes from reaching the mouth and nose of the person wearing the facemask. Respirators are designed to protect people from breathing in very small particles, which might contain viruses. Thus, if you’re caring for someone who is ill with pandemic flu, proper use of a well-fitted respirator may be a reasonable choice.”
Bell stressed that neither a facemask nor a respirator will provide complete protection from a virus. To reduce the chances of becoming infected during a pandemic, people will need to practice a combination of simple actions, including: washing hands often with soap and water, staying away from other people when they are ill, and avoiding crowds and gatherings as much as possible.
Pandemic Influenza
A flu pandemic is a global outbreak caused by a new flu virus that spreads around the world. The virus will spread easily from person to person, mostly by close contact (within about 6 feet) with individuals who are infected, and mostly through coughing and sneezing. Because the virus will be new to people, everyone will be at risk of getting it. Much of the transmission will most likely occur in non-healthcare settings, such as schools, public gatherings, mass transit, and households. The severity of the infection from an influenza virus in a pandemic is not knowable in advance. Severity could range from a level comparable to seasonal influenza to the level that occurred in the pandemic of 1918.
What is a facemask?
Facemasks are loose-fitting, disposable masks that cover the nose and mouth. These include products labeled as surgical, dental, medical procedure, isolation, and laser masks.
Facemasks help stop droplets from being spread by the person wearing them. They also keep splashes or sprays from reaching the mouth and nose of the person wearing the facemask. They are not designed to protect the person wearing it against breathing in very small particles. Facemasks should be used once and then thrown away in the trash.
What is a respirator?
A respirator (e.g., an N95 or higher filtering facepiece respirator approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) is designed to protect people from breathing in very small particles, which might contain viruses. Most of the time, N95 respirators are used in construction and other jobs that involve dust and small particles. Healthcare workers, such as nurses and doctors, also use respirators when taking care of patients with diseases that can be spread through the air.
“N95” means the filter on the respirator screens out 95 percent of the particles (0.3 microns and larger) that could pass through (and higher numbers mean a higher percentage of particles are screened). The filter and the tightness of fit together determine overall effectiveness of a respirator. To be most effective, these types of respirators need to fit tightly to the face so that the air is breathed through the filter material. “Fit testing” is the usual method for assuring proper fit in workplaces where respirators are used. Respirators are not designed to form a tight fit on people with small faces (e.g., children) or facial hair. Men who have beards need to shave before using. N95 and higher respirators are less comfortable to wear than facemasks because they are more difficult to breathe through. If people have a heart or lung disease or other health condition, they may have trouble breathing through respirators and should talk with their doctor before using a respirator.
Like surgical masks, most N95 respirators should be worn only once and then thrown away in the trash. Reusable respirators are available, but special precautions need to be followed when using them. For more information about respirators, see NIOSH Safety and Health Topic: Respirators (www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/).
For more information on the proper use and removal of masks and respirators, or to learn more about these (including pictures) and other issues relating to pandemic influenza, http://www.pandemicflu.gov/vaccine/mask.html
This guidance is now part of other community preventive measures available at www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/community/commitigation.html.
Members of the public with questions about masks, respirators and pandemic influenza can also call the CDC information line, 1-800-CDC-INFO.
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Planning Guide for Individuals and Families
01/06/06- Secretary Leavitt Releases Guide to Help
Individuals and Families
Get Informed - Be Prepared For a Pandemic.
Press release >> Guide for Individuals & Families >>
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Travelers' Health
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Travelers' Health Home > Travel Notices > |
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Released: March 24, 2005
Background
Avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses usually affect wild birds but have infected and caused serious disease among poultry, such as chickens, in Asia and parts of Europe. Countries that have experienced outbreaks of H5N1 infection among poultry and other birds in 2005-2006 include Cambodia, China, Croatia, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Romania, Russia, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, and Vietnam. Poultry outbreaks were also reported in Japan, Malaysia and Laos during 2004. Human infections with H5N1 viruses are rare, but have occurred during 2003-2006 in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Thailand, Turkey, and Vietnam.
Most cases of H5N1 infection in humans are thought to have occurred from direct contact with infected poultry in the affected countries. When possible, care should be taken to avoid contact with poultry that has no apparent symptoms, as well as with sick or dead poultry and any surfaces that may have been contaminated by poultry or their feces or secretions. Transmission of H5N1 viruses to two persons through consumption of uncooked duck blood may also have occurred in Vietnam in 2005. Therefore, uncooked poultry or poultry products, including blood, should not be consumed.
The threat of novel influenza subtypes such as influenza A (H5N1) will be greatly increased if the virus gains the ability for sustained spread from one human to another. Such transmission has not yet been observed. However, a few cases of probable person-to-person spread of H5N1 viruses have been reported, with no instances of transmission continuing beyond one person. For example, one case of probable person-to-person transmission associated with close contact between an ill child and her mother is thought to have occurred in Thailand in September 2004.
H5N1 infections in humans can cause serious disease and death. There currently is no commercially available vaccine to protect people against the H5N1 virus that is being seen in Asia and Europe. However, vaccines are being developed. Research studies to test a vaccine to protect people against the H5N1 virus began in April 2005, and a series of clinical trials is under way. For more information about vaccine development, visit the National Institutes of Health website. The H5N1 viruses currently infecting birds in Asia and Europe and some humans in Asia are resistant to amantadine and rimantadine, two antiviral medications commonly used for influenza. The H5N1 viruses are susceptible in a laboratory setting to the antiviral medications oseltamavir and zanamavir, although the effectiveness of these drugs when used for treatment of H5N1 virus infection is unknown. For more information about influenza antiviral drugs, see http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/treatment/.
Situation Update
The World Health Organization (WHO) maintains situation updates and cumulative reports of human cases of avian influenza A (H5N1). Please visit the WHO links for additional information, as well as links to previous situation updates and cumulative reports.
On August 3, 2005, the U.S. Department of State issued a statement on its decision to provide the drug oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) at its embassies and consulates for eligible U.S. government employees and their families serving in the Southeast Asia region. For more information about this policy, see http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1181.html. Other Americans living in affected areas or planning long-term travel to these areas may wish to discuss antiviral medication with their health-care providers.
CDC Recommendations
Surveillance and Travel: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to recommend surveillance, diagnostic evaluation, and infection control guidance for suspected H5N1 cases in travelers to the United States, as detailed in a health advisory update on February 4, 2005 (http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/professional/han020405.htm). CDC remains in communication with WHO and continues to closely monitor the H5N1 situation. Situational updates can be found on CDC’s avian influenza ( http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/index.htm) and Travelers’ Health websites (http://www.cdc.gov/travel). Information also is available on the WHO website (http://www.who.int/en/).
FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES TO FOLLOW AND SHARE WITH OTHERS:
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To reduce the risk of infection, Americans living in areas where outbreaks of H5N1 among poultry or human H5N1 cases have been reported should observe the following measures to help avoid illness:
Precautions: The following recommendations are directed to U.S. embassies and consulates, their personnel, and U.S. citizens living abroad in areas where avian influenza A (H5N1) outbreaks among poultry or human H5N1 cases have been reported. These recommendations may be revised as more information becomes available. Embassies and consulates should recommend the following precautions to U.S. expatriates living in an area with avian influenza:
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Travelers should avoid all contact with poultry (e.g., chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, turkeys, and quail) or any wild birds, and avoid settings where H5N1-infected poultry may be present, such as commercial or backyard poultry farms and live poultry markets. Do not eat uncooked or undercooked poultry or poultry products, including dishes made with uncooked poultry blood.
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As with other infectious illnesses, one of the most important preventive practices is careful and frequent handwashing. Clean your hands often, using either soap and water (or waterless, alcohol-based hand gels when soap is not available and hands are not visibly soiled) to remove potentially infectious materials from your skin and help prevent disease transmission.
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CDC does not recommend the routine use of masks or other personal protective equipment while in public areas. (However, there are clinicians recommending masks in areas of outbreaks- one kind specifically:
the N95 Breathing Mask is recommended by WHO and the CDC. These are disposable and should be replaced daily carefully without contaminating hands )
See Seeking Health Care Abroad in Health Information for International Travel for more information about what to do if you become ill while abroad.
When Preparing Food
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Separate raw meat from cooked or ready-to-eat foods. Do not use the same chopping board or the same knife for preparing raw meat and cooked or ready-to-eat foods.
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Do not handle either raw or cooked foods without washing your hands in between.
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Do not place cooked meat back on the same plate or surface it was on before it was cooked.
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All foods from poultry, including eggs and poultry blood, should be cooked thoroughly. Egg yolks should not be runny or liquid. Because influenza viruses are destroyed by heat, the cooking temperature for poultry meat should reach 70°C (158°F).
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Wash egg shells in soapy water before handling and cooking, and wash your hands afterwards.
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Do not use raw or soft-boiled eggs in foods that will not be cooked.
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After handling raw poultry or eggs, wash your hands and all surfaces and utensils thoroughly with soap and water.
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Again,wash hands frequently throughout the day and help family members begin doing this regularly .
If you believe you might have been exposed to avian influenza, take the following precautions:
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Monitor your health for 10 days.
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If you become ill with fever and develop a cough , sore throat, or difficulty breathing or if you develop any illness with fever during this 10-day period, consult a health-care provider. Before you visit a health-care setting, tell the provider the following: 1) your symptoms, 2) where you traveled, and 3) if you have had direct poultry contact with poultry. The U.S. embassy or consulate also can provide names and addresses of local physicians.
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Do not travel while ill, unless traveling locally for medical care. Limiting contact with others as much as possible can help prevent the spread of an infectious illness.
For more information about avian influenza, see http://www.cdc.gov/flu/avian/index.htm. |
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Date: January 13, 2006 |
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Content Source: National Center for Infectious Diseases, Division of Global Migration and Quarantine | |
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Travelers' Health Automated Information Line
PHONE: 877-FYI-TRIP toll free (Information about ordering the Yellow Book and International Certificates of Vaccination and recorded messages on travel-related health topics)
VIA EMAIL: Contact Us Form | | | |
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Pandemic Influenza Planning: A Guide for Individuals and Families, available for download in PDF format.
Challenges and Preparation -- Individuals and Families
Pandemic Influenza Planning: A Guide for Individuals
and Families, available for download in PDF format.
(Super research article by experts on the Avian Flu) |
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4 Simple Steps for Individuals and Families
to Prepare without Fear:
***
1. Stockpile supplies for 30 days for your family and pets in case you are
quarantined to your home- medications,water,food and flashlights,batteries, soap.
2. Have 1st aid supplies,gloves,trash bags and soap for appropriate hygiene
for family members who might get ill or have to venture into
community for supplies.
3. The N95 masks which are recommended are below as well as a link to directly
order them through a company not affiliated with us but with excellent
prices. You should have a 30 day supply for every adult and child- or at the
very least a 15 day supply as these are disposable.
4. Prepare now and avoid the panic later. Keep a checklist of supplies and have
activities for the children in case there is a quarantine.
You can choose what would work best for you and your family but here
are the popular ones below....Smaller N95 CDC approved masks that could
be used for an older child/young teen but not officially approved for children.
By ordering through this company below as we did , you will be
able to calmly prepare and evaluate your family's needs in case
quarantine occurrs.
You may also decide if the bird flu came to your community to keep your
family at home so this will be vital to be ready for this event.
Consider it like a hurricane or massive snow storm and how for the first
few weeks , families and individuals may have to depend on their own
resources and skills to stay healthy and have basic needs met.
FOR ADULTS:
1. To buy N95 Respirator Masks (we recommend 3 panel for comfort) -
click here on Allegro Medical icon:
2. Next: click on "Personal Care"
3. Then click on the " Protective Wear " link
4. This comes in boxes of 20 (remember these are disposable and you should have enough for 30 days).
FOR CHILDREN or smaller faces:
1. To buy N95 Respirator Masks (choose size SMALL)- click here on Allegro Medical icon:
2. Next: Click on "Personal Care"
3. Then click on the "Protective Wear" Link
4. Then choose N95 Particulate Respirator Mask- SMALL (choose box of 20 or 120)
***
Remember, prepare now and you can relax later
while everyone else panics ......this is the time to
plan and begin to gather your supplies. Make it a
family project and this is a good time to review
proper handwashing skills with everyone in
the family too at home and in the community.
|
**********************************
***
To contact us: info@HomefrontHugs.com
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Homefront Hugs USA and its programs does not endorse any political party or candidate. We are here strictly to provide support and comfort to our service members,veterans and their families, regardless of political or religious affiliation. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, or politics in accordance with our United States constitution and in honor of our troops and veterans worldwide who come from all walks of life to serve our country with honor, great personal sacrifice and courage.
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