Vic303 Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/b...s.php?id=114048 Stockpiling suggested for possible bird flu Hong Kong (dpa) - US citizens in Hong Kong have been advised to build a three-month stockpile of food, medicine and water in their homes in case of a bird flu pandemic, a news report said Tuesday. An advisory has been sent out to all 60,000 registered US citizens in the former British colony urging them to prepare the stockpiles ahead of the coming winter flu season. It suggests stockpiling 4.5 litres of water per person per day and to prepare water purification equipment in case of "complete infrastructure breakdown," the South China Morning Post reported. The advisory also suggests they stock up on non-perishable foods, soap, alcohol-based hand wash, medicines, vitamins, flashlights and a portable radio, the newspaper said. Six people died and 12 others were infected in the first modern outbreak of bird flu to jump the species barrier and attack humans in Hong Kong in 1997. Since then, however, the city of 6.8 million has built up sophisticated safeguards against the virus and avoided further human cases despite a spate of regional outbreaks. Hong Kong has carried out mass culls of birds and ducks when cases have been detected among poultry and birds imported from mainland China are screened for the virus. Scientists believe bird flu may cause deaths on a global scale greater than the Spanish Flu of 1918 which killed up to 40 million if the virus mutates to jump from human to human. Link to comment
goatherder Posted November 9, 2006 Share Posted November 9, 2006 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- INFLUENZA >> PANDEMIC INFLUENZA >> NEWS >> Federal workers abroad urged to store food, water Nov 7, 2006 (CIDRAP News) – The US State Department is advising government employees overseas to stockpile enough food and water to last up to 12 weeks in preparation for the threat of a severe influenza pandemic. A Nov 3 statement posted on the Web site of the US Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau said the State Department recently sent guidance on "shelter-in-place" or "self-quarantine" to all diplomatic and consular posts. The statement said that overseas employees, like their stateside counterparts and private citizens, should maintain supplies of food and water for a possible pandemic. The advisory urges families to store nonperishable foods that don't require refrigeration, preparation, or cooking. Also, families are advised to store 1 gallon of water per person per day. The Hong Kong consulate also advises US citizens in Hong Kong and other countries to prepare for water supply disruptions if infrastructure breakdowns occur during an influenza pandemic. Suggested water purification techniques include boiling for at least 10 minutes and adding specified amounts of regular Clorox bleach. The recommendation that US citizens overseas stockpile 12 weeks' worth of food and water differs from the current federal recommendation for general pandemic preparedness. The government, on its pandemic planning Web site, recommends that US residents stockpile 2 weeks' worth of food and water. See also: Nov 3 statement from US Hong Kong Consulate: "Pandemic influenza—preparing for possible shelter-in-place" http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov/ci_avian_2006110301.html PandemicFlu.gov article "A guide for individuals and families" http://www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/individual/familyguide.html Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy Academic Health Center -- University of Minnesota Copyright © 2006 Regents of the University of Minnesota Link to comment
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