Here is the link for the other site as well, which includes the Summary for Dec 11
Did this get posted yet? Wonderful warning about what it will really be like when TS hits the fan…
Yes, I know it’s a few weeks old. But, really, the message is timely.
Nova --- I’ve never seen that article before. Thanks. It certainly drives home the exact same point we’ve been making to people---PUT WATER IN YER PREPS!
The article reminds me of every “end-of-the-world” movie scene ever filmed…
I just went to the RSOE HAVARIA map, and found something new..epeidemic warning in Dartmouth Nova Scotia. It only says that the particular hospital, has closed its doors to visitors, and that they mention “ norovirus”…I just wrote to my realtives who live in that area., and when they write back to me, I will let you know. I am from Nova Scotia, but currently in USA, my entire family is up there.
Norovirus is the same virus that has been breaking out on cruise ships—quick onset, vomiting, diarrhea, highly contagious. I don’t believe that it is fatal except in the case of weakness or a compromised immune system. It seems to flourish in an enclosed environment.
Get an Update on Avian Flu from ‘Talk to America’
The World Bank says the global fight against avian flu needs at least $1.2 billion in extra funding over the next few years. The H5N1 virus has killed more than 140 people since 2003 and forced the killing of about 250 million poultry birds. The virus first struck in Asia, but has since been identified in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. On Wednesday, 13 December, we’ll examine and discuss the latest news on avian flu with guest experts Dr. David Heymann, M.D., the Acting Assistant Director-General for Communicable Diseases at the World Health Organization; and John G. Bartlett, M.D., former Chief of Infectious Diseases at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.
Talk to America airs live Monday through Friday at 9:00 a.m. (EST) / 1400 UTC. The 60-minute program reaches millions of listeners around the globe and addresses a wide range of topics from U.S. foreign policy to American movies and sports. Callers can ask questions of guests via telephone, fax, SMS Text Messaging, and the Internet. To listen to streamed programs or get more information, visit the show’s web page at www.VOANews.com/talk.
http://www.voanews.com/english/About/2006-12-12-tta-avian-flu.cfm
Report Finds U.S. Bioterror, Bird Flu and Health Disaster Preparedness Inadequate
<snip> The “Ready or Not?” report contains state-by-state health preparedness scores based on 10 key indicators to assess health emergency preparedness capabilities. All 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia were evaluated. Half of states scored six or less on the scale of 10 indicators. Kansas and Oklahoma scored the highest with nine out of 10; California, Iowa, Maryland and New Jersey scored the lowest with four out of 10. States with stronger surge capacity capabilities and immunization programs scored higher in this year’s report, since four of the measures focus on these areas.
“The nation is nowhere near as prepared as we should be for bioterrorism, bird flu and other health disasters,” said Jeff Levi, PhD, executive director of TFAH. “We continue to make progress each year, but it is limited. As a whole, Americans face unnecessary and unacceptable levels of risk.”
<snip> For the state-by-state scoring, states received one point for achieving an indicator or zero points if they did not achieve the indicator, therefore zero is the lowest possible overall score and 10 the highest. The data for the public health indicators are from publicly available sources or public officials in 2006.
Among the key findings:
— Only 14 states are rated at the highest preparedness level to provide emergency vaccines, antidotes and medical supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile.
— Twenty-five states would run out of hospital beds within two weeks of a moderate pandemic flu outbreak.
— Forty states face a shortage of nurses.
— Rates for vaccinating seniors for the seasonal flu decreased in 13 states.
— Eleven states and D.C. lack sufficient capabilities to test for biological threats.
— Four states do not test year-round for the flu, which is necessary to monitor for a pandemic outbreak.
— Six states cut their public health budgets from fiscal year (FY) 2005 to 2006; the median rate for state public health spending is $31 per person per year.
“Sept. 11, the anthrax attacks and Hurricane Katrina were all wake up calls to the country, putting us on notice that the nation’s response capabilities were weak and that we needed to improve preparedness,” said Levi added. “But, across the board it is clear that we haven’t learned the lessons from these tragedies — we are still too vulnerable to what might come next.”