This was my doing - and its my Marina! - www.marinaspodcast.com - interviews with niman, ark institute, red cross and more. See story below - video at link.
http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=5659951
Preparing for a Pandemic
Preparing for a Pandemic - story by Jocelyn Maminta
(WTNH, Nov. 9, 2006 11:00 PM) _ It may not be making headlines these days but the potential for a worldwide pandemic is still very real. That fear is driving one woman to stockpile before there is a deadly flu outbreak.
by News Channel 8′s Jocelyn Maminta “We probably have preps for three months in this area.”
Inside a pantry and garage of one Connecticut home you will find more than you could possibly need to survive perhaps the worst catastrophe.
“I might be a little bit overkill but people are not prepared,” says Marina, the homeowner.
Marina is prepared for a potential pandemic of the bird flu.
“I started to get an education of what was going on.”
This wife and mother is vigilant about it, monitoring the bird flu on the Internet, “flutrackers.com is one of the most reliable sources,” she says, and talking with scientists.
“I’m learning that it’s scary. I’m learning that its growing. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.”
Among those she has spoken with is well known infectious disease expert Dr. Henry Niman, who is tracking the bird flu.
“Right now it’s already transmitting human to human with families,” Dr. Niman said. “There are currently cases in Indonesia and there have been recent cases in Egypt this month.”
Most cases have popped up near poultry populations outside the United States with high fatality rates. So is Marina over-reacting?
“The virus is literally one sneeze away from being efficiently transmitted and once that happens it can literally move around the world in a matter of weeks,” Dr. Niman said.
Dan Adams heads up Protein Sciences, a Connecticut biopharmaceutical company that develops protein-based vaccines. He agrees there will be a pandemic, but sees no reason for immediate alarm.
“I believe a pandemic will happen and I also believe that it’s not going to start here and that we’ll have weeks, months to prepare for it as best as we can.”
He is not convinced the H5N1 flu in question will lead to a pandemic.
“I think we’ve had enough H5N1 around that if it was going to be able to be transmitted human to human it would have done that already.”
For Marina, the mission is to inform, not inflame.
“I lived in New York during 9/11. I saw how people acted. I saw markets run out of everything quick. I saw people panic and not have food in the house.
“Not to be prepared in case of any emergency is naive and silly.”
Getting prepared for a pandemic has become very personal for marina. She requested that we use only her first name. Marina has thought about everything you could possible need and then some.
Again, her mission is to raise awareness and get others to be prepared, not just for a pandemic but for any type of emergency.
I will be offline for afew days
Great job Marina! For a change that was acutally pretty decent AF coverage! Except for that bozo from the biotech company. “It won’t start here and when it does start we’ll ahve weeks if not months to prepare.” Those are the guys you want to smack upsiee the head!
Great interview Marina! It’s nice to put a face with the name! It was also nice to see that Dr. Niman is still on top of this as well. But like LauraB said- That guy from the Biotech needs a RUDE awakening!! Yeesh!
Smack ‘em with this, in front of the public (National Association of County and City Health Officials; 60p pdf Planning assumptions:
1. An influenza pandemic will result in the rapid spread of infection with outbreaks throughout the world.
Communities across the state and the country may be impacted simultaneously
2. Localities will not be able to rely on timely or effective mutual aid resources, State or Federal assistance to support local response efforts
3. An influenza pandemic may occur in waves and last for 12 to 24 months
4. Residents will be required to stay in their homes for a significant period during an influenza pandemic; thus, residents will need publicinformation, education and tools so they are prepared to take responsibility for basic needs (food, water, prescription meds, over-the-counter medications, etc.).
5. Antiviral medications will be in extremely short supply. Administration of local supplies of antiviral medications will be prioritized…
6. A vaccine for the pandemic influenza strain will likely not be available for 6 to 8 months following the emergence of a novel virus.
7. The number of ill people requiring outpatient medical care and hospitalization will overwhelm the local health care system. In other words, the normal amount and level of hospital care will not be available …
7. h. The number of fatalities will overwhelm the resources of the Medical Examiner’s Office, morgues and funeral homes…
8. There will likely be significant disruption of public and privately owned critical infrastructure including transportation, commerce, utilities, public safety and communications
ect, ect
11. Risk Communication will be critically important during all phases of planning
and implementation of a pandemic influenza response. The general public, health care system, response agencies, and elected leaders will need continuous updates on the status of the pandemic outbreak, impacts on critical services, the steps being taken to address the incident, and steps the public can take to protect themselves
…HHS: Severe: 1,903,000 fatalities; and
9,900,000 hospitalizations (I’d consider adding those together for Possible Losses Don’t forget that isn’t counting annual deaths, and, collateral damage from system failures.)
…Key Actions for Pandemic Phase 3:
“Conduct broad public education campaign about influenza pandemics and the possible necessity to use quarantine and isolation measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
Coordinate planning with relevant community partners, including, but not limited to law enforcement, home health services and the Red Cross.
Work with infection control professionals at local healthcare facilities to promote the use of practices that will prevent the spread of the virus.
Coordinate with community service agencies and organizations to establish plans that provide food, medicine and other necessities to households placed in quarantine or providing home health care to infected individuals.
Enhance coverage with vaccinations for seasonal influenza in groups at risk for severe influenza and in healthcare workers.
Enhance coverage with vaccines against Streptococcus pneumoniae among those for whom these vaccines are recommended”… ect, ect