Threat of avian flu prompts call for preparedness
By Molly Albertson
Cape Gazette staff
A statewide summit about a possible pandemic has left locals squawking about bird flu.
Federal officials on a nationwide awareness tour urged communities to prepare in advance for worst-case scenarios, including a possible six-week
quarantine, if avian flu becomes a virus transmitted from person to person.
“You need to do this now. You need a plan and a strategy for preparedness,” said Alfonso Martinez-Fonts Jr., special assistant to the secretary
for the private sector of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Small communities and even neighborhoods need to organize, officials said, because if a pandemic strikes, many people will be confined to their homes.
Under quarantine, people will have no way to get to hospitals, grocery stores or town centers, officials said at the Feb. 21 meeting in Dover.
Pandemic planning requires addressing the role of schools, businesses, public agencies, faith-based organizations and others, said U.S. Department of
Health and Human Service Deputy Secretary Alex Azar.
“This is an ever-present threat,” U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona said.
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www.capegazette.com...
I do believe that our own government is trying to ease us into awareness of this threat. In that case I recommend preparing for a 9-12 month
quarantine.
Intresting to note that they are doing this on a "state-by-state" basis. I would think that a special news brief from the Fed's would really get
everyones attention....aw..maybe thats too much too fast. Might cause a panic and food shortages.
Everybody here been stockpiling for awhile? Hope so. Prices for stuff could go up really fast.
[edit on 28-2-2006 by gman55]
