# 3313
Ready or not, and despite the delays in officially declaring it, the first influenza pandemic in over 40 years is obviously underway.
Whether the WHO declares that a pandemic has started tomorrow, or later this week, or later this month . . . for most people, there won’t be any apparent change to their lives.
At least, not right away.
If you, or a loved one, catch this new flu the odds are – after a few miserable days – you will recover just fine.
A least with the virus as it stands today.
Not everyone will be so lucky, of course.
Some people, particularly those with underlying conditions, are at greater risk for serious – even life threatening – complications.
And there are a great many people who have `pre-existing or underlying conditions’. Of course, even perfectly healthy people can experience serious illness, or even die, from influenza.
The CDC has identified a number of `higher risk’ categories, which include, but are not limited to the following:
- People who are over 65, under age 2, or pregnant
- People with chronic lung problems, such as asthma or emphysema
- People with chronic heart, kidney, liver or blood disorders
- People with neurological disorders that can cause breathing problems
- People with diabetes
- People whose immune systems are weakened due to illness or medication
- People under 18 years who are on long-term aspirin therapy
If you, or a loved one, falls into any of these categories – then this flu could be particularly risky.
While it has been very common to see this virus referred to as `mild’ in the media (or sometimes even suggested that it is less virulent than seasonal flu), Keiji Fuduka of the World Health Organization today referred to the current situation – on the three-point severity scale of mild, moderate or severe – to be moderate.
Which mirrors what Dr. Margaret Chan said yesterday in her remarks to the World Food Programme Executive board.
We are probably some weeks (and perhaps months) away from really knowing how severe this virus really is, and what kind of impact it will have during the height of the southern hemisphere’s flu season or when it returns here in the fall.
And there is also the possibility that this virus could pick up (or hopefully lose) virulence as it spreads.
The virus we are dealing with today may not be the virus that comes back in the fall or even next year.
While the southern hemisphere must deal with this virus without much time to prepare, we who live north of the equator have been given a gift.
The gift of time.
Although we continue to see the virus spread in the northern hemisphere, we have four, maybe five months before our flu season really begins to ramp back up.
Enough time to hopefully produce at least a small quantity of vaccine. Certainly not enough for everybody, but perhaps enough to help protect health care workers, first responders, and some of the higher risk groups.
And we have time to prepare our homes, and our workplaces, and refine our pandemic plans to deal with what could be a seriously nasty flu season in the fall.
No, this isn’t Armageddon.
And it probably won’t even come close to the 1918 pandemic. But that doesn’t mean we should dismiss it.
This pandemic has the potential to cause significant loss of human life along with serious societal and economic disruption.
And a pandemic could last for a year, perhaps longer.
Short of another pandemic virus emerging, and overrunning this H1N1 virus (which I don’t even want to think about!), it is hard to imagine this `swine flu’ virus disappearing anytime soon.
So we have to learn to live with it.
Yes, that’s right.
This is the `flu normal’, and we might as well accept that and start now trying to figure out ways to cope.
Otherwise we risk being unprepared, and making bad decisions next fall, and that could greatly exacerbate the problems we will be facing.
Our government, and governments around the world, are going to be trying to handle the `macro’ issues that come with a pandemic; the creation, and eventual distribution, of a vaccine, health care, emergency aid to communities where possible, facilitating trade, national security, and the transport of vital goods.
But the government can’t do it all.
The business sector is going to have to take it upon themselves to prepare for, and deal with, a pandemic. And that means everyone, from mom and pop small businesses to corporate giants.
Businesses need to work out sick leave policies that allow workers the ability to stay away if they are sick, or must care for a sick loved one.
This isn’t just compassionate, it is essential unless they want sick, and infectious workers in their workplace decimating their workforce or infecting their customers.
Businesses also need to be cross-training employees to handle essential tasks in the event that `key’ employees are out sick.
Lets face it, If the bookkeeper is the only one who can cut payroll or accounts payable checks, everything stops if the bookkeeper is out sick.
Workplaces need to be setting up so they can function under `social distancing rules’, or installing barriers that will allow interaction with the public with the least amount of danger of infection.
If you haven’t already, now is the time to visit the OSHA pandemic information page and begin taking steps to prepare your workplace.
All businesses should have a serious, workable, and written pandemic plan in place before the end of the summer. To get you started, visit the HHS’s pandemic workplace planning page.
And hospitals, ambulances services, doctor’s offices, and clinics need to be laying in the supplies they will need (PPE’s, antivirals, etc.) to allow them to work through a pandemic.
Individuals have a `shared responsibility’ to prepare as well.
Every household should have at least 2-weeks worth of food and emergency supplies on hand in case the occupants are quarantined, isolated, or simply too sick to go out for groceries.
Now is the time to be procuring over-the-counter flu medications that may be hard to come by in the fall. Many families may wish to invest in a modest supply of surgical and N95 masks as well.
During a pandemic flu wave, you may find that there are no beds available at your local hospital, and may have to care for yourself, or your family at home. If you haven’t downloaded Dr. Grattan Woodson’s free book on treating pandemic flu, you should now.
Today, while supplies are ample, and the prices reasonable, it isn’t hoarding to stockpile a reasonable quantity of supplies. Come this fall, doing so may become more difficult.
You should have a written family emergency plan, that takes into account all hazards, including a pandemic.
You should have a good first aid kit, an emergency radio, flashlights & batteries, and everyone’s medical history written down and easily available.
If you have not done so, go to Ready.gov. Get A Kit, Make A Plan, and Be Informed.
You need to be figuring out now how you will handle it if your child’s school is closed next fall for weeks, or longer.
You may also find, depending on your job, that your regular employment is affected by a pandemic. If you are able to work, you need to be thinking about how you will mitigate the risks of commuting, or performing your job, during a pandemic.
And of course, if you should fall ill, you may be unable to work for several weeks. It is a good idea to begin planning for that unhappy contingency (if possible), as well.
Lastly, you need to be thinking about how you can help your neighborhood, and greater community, get through a crisis.
It can be something as simple as volunteering to be a `flu buddy’ for a neighbor or friend – or if you are able, volunteering with the Red Cross or, CERT, or the Medical Reserve Corps. There will also probably be opportunities to help with your local school, church, or hospital.
If we retreat into our homes, refuse to work, or are afraid to help our neighbors and community we will only compound the effects of a pandemic. And we risk putting a stake through the heart of an already staggering economy.
We need to begin, today, to figure out how we are going to live, work, and help one another during a pandemic.
I know many people will say that taking these steps is too expensive, bloody inconvenient, or perhaps - given the economy - even impossible for some.
I know it’s going to be tough, but believe me, the virus doesn’t care.
It just is. And it’s coming whether are ready for it or not.
Welcome to the `flu normal’.
