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In my never-ending and ambitious attempt to prove that the word "preparation" is not a dirty word, but rather a word that indicates intelligence and wisdom, I'm sending this newest information on swine flu. In the last paragraph of this post is a link to excellent preparation information from CIDRAP. In fact, it's one of the best I've seen so far.

Posted to DailyKos.com by DemFromCT
Mon Jul 06, 2009 at 04:49:54 AM PDT

Excerpt from Houston Chronicle article:
Spread of swine flu far from over, officials warn
By DUDLEY ALTHAUS
July 3, 2009
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/6509336.html

World health experts warned Thursday that the global swine flu outbreak that so far has sickened nearly 4,000 Texans and killed 17 is all but certain to worsen in the coming months.

"We are really at the start of a global phenomenon," said Keiji Fukuda, assistant director general of the World Health Organization. "This is a very humbling virus."

Hundreds of specialists from 40 countries meeting at a posh beach side resort in this tourist mecca were plotting strategies for what many dread could become an outbreak rivaling a 1918 flu pandemic that killed tens of millions of people.

Health officials in the United States, Mexico and Canada fear that a strengthened virus will return north with the winter cold. And the United Kingdom's health minister warned this week that the flu could strike as many as 100,000 Britons a day by the end of August.

"We need to plan for the most extreme scenarios as well as for the likely scenarios," said Thomas Frieden, director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Influenza is perhaps the most unpredictable of infectious diseases."

We're not so dramatic (think 1957 rather than 1918), but even a moderate pandemic can be overwhelming. And yes, concerns for the fall are real. Here is CIDRAP's Personal Pandemic Preparedness Resource List. Take a few steps to prepare while summer is still with us. Be ready for the next ice storm, nor'easter or pandemic. This is not a prediction. It's prudent planning.

Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this paper
is complete and accurate. However, neither the publisher nor the author are engaged
in rendering professional advice or services to the individual reader. The ideas,
procedures and suggestions contained in this paper are not intended as a substitute
for consulting with your physician. All matters regarding your health require medical
supervision. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be liable or responsible for
any loss, injury or damage allegedly arising from any information or suggestion in this
paper. The opinions expressed in this paper represent the personal views of the author.