Red Cross: Prepare for bird flu

Organization advises to stock up on water, food; central Illinois could see virus as early as September

Sunday, July 9, 2006

BY CLARE HOWARD

OF THE JOURNAL STAR

PEORIA - Avian flu pandemic could hit central Illinois as early as September with migratory birds flying down the Illinois River waterway, and health officials are recommending households have two to three weeks of supplies in the event of widespread quarantines.

"Health organizations all over the world are watchful for the spread. This virus is mutating so fast. No one knows, but the theory behind pandemic is that this is a whole new flu strain and everyone is vulnerable," said Anne Fox, chief executive officer of American Red Cross Central Illinois Chapter.

"Without sending an alarm, no one knows how widespread disruptions will be. Maybe transportation will be affected. Maybe it will impact supply lines.

"We need to be prepared to be self-sustaining as a community. In a normal disaster, people help each other. That may not be possible during a pandemic flu."

Normally, the Red Cross recommends households have three days of supplies. With the threat of pandemic flu and possible interruption of basic services, the Red Cross is recommending up to three weeks of supplies including food, water

and medicine.

"We're told to expect the flu to strike in waves at about six-week intervals," Fox said, noting that 40 percent of the population could be sick or absent from work caring for sick family members.

American Red Cross Central Illinois Chapter covers six counties with 385,000 people. The organization is planning for illness and absenteeism to affect up to 160,000 people in the region.

Alyssa Pollock, disaster preparedness coordinator with American Red Cross Central Illinois Chapter, said, "We plan for bulk feeding, but we're not sure of our own supply chain. Plan A means all grocery stores are operational. Plan B means we deliver food. Plan C coordinates with restaurants."

Both Fox and Pollock encourage individual households to prepare with stockpiled water, food and medicine.

Red Cross volunteer Jean Larke is a disaster preparedness specialist and knows how disrupted supply lines and quarantines affect households. She has instructed her granddaughter Emily Larke, 16, that in the event of avian flu pandemic, both patient and caregiver should wear face masks to cut down on disease transmission.

"Have a minimum supply of 14 days of food and medications. Besides prescriptions, we have Tylenol, Chloraseptic, Robitussin, Tums, Imodium for diarrhea and thermometers," she said.

She also has a recipe for an electrolyte drink like Gatorade in the event vomiting and diarrhea result in dehydration.

"Dehydration from vomiting and diarrhea is part of avian flu. You need to replace those fluids," Larke said. "Prepare so you don't have to go to the grocery store. People go to grocery stores even when they feel sick, so that becomes a place for disease transmission."

Disposable gloves, antibacterial soap and disinfectant hand wipes also are recommended for supplies at home, the car and the workplace.

Fox suggests people get into the habit now of extra hand washing. Disease transmission can be from handshakes, door knobs, telephones, pens at grocery stores or doctor sign-in forms, computers, car door handles and gas station pumps.

"Keep hands off your eyes, nose and lips. Practice good hygiene, and be aware of precautions," Fox said. "Proper hand washing means soap between fingers, back of hands and under fingernails for a period as long as it takes to sing 'Happy Birthday.' Use the paper towel to turn off the faucet and open the door.

"We are teaching people to be observers. Watch for the glass of water served with fingers over the top of the glass. Just be more aware of what you touch and what you put in your mouth."

The Red Cross recommends a gallon of water a day per person and per pet. Stock nonperishable food, canned goods and a hand-operated can opener in the event of power outages.

People in other countries have routinely used face masks, even when they walk in public, but Americans have resisted. However, health officials here now warn face masks should be part of supplies in preparation for flu pandemic.

The Red Cross and other central Illinois health organizations have worked for more than a year on emergency plans for dealing with avian flu pandemic. The operative phrase is "not if but when."

Avian flu has a high mortality rate, but the unknowns about this disease are as disturbing as the documented statistics. The virus is mutating so rapidly, medical authorities are on heightened alert for the first U.S. cases.

According to statistics compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in early July, there were 229 confirmed cases of avian flu worldwide and 131 fatalities, a mortality rate of 57 percent.

Dr. Thembi Conner-Garcia, internist with Methodist Medical Center, said if pandemic flu hits central Illinois, she recommends people stay at home if possible, even if they are not sick.

"If you are not needed at work, stay home," she said.

The earlier in the season the flu strikes, the more prolonged and severe it is expected to be. If it is late winter before outbreaks occur, it's expected to be short lived and give scientists time next summer to formulate a vaccine.

So far, transmission has been primarily from birds to humans, but Conner-Garcia said at least one documented case in Asia was traced from child to mother.

Dr. William Scott, assistant clinical professor at the University of Illinois and medical director of the Center for Occupational Health at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, said, "My expectation is we are susceptible to a pandemic situation. It is possible and probable. When and where and how intense is speculation, but it is foolish to think we are immune."

Peoria City/County Health Department has information on the virus on its Web site and will track the progression and post critical information for the public.

"All of us in emergency preparedness look at our national complacency. We are so blessed to have what we do, and we don't think this could happen here. But on Sept. 10, no one anticipated Sept. 11. With Hurricane Katrina, people did not react even with one week's notice. Try to use those terrible emergencies. Don't think this (flu pandemic) couldn't happen here," said R. Jason Marks, emergency preparedness coordinator with the health department.

The Red Cross is working with area businesses on emergency planning.

Debra Sheehan, vice president of human resources at CEFCU, said the credit union is planning for the worst-case scenario with up to 40 percent of its work force out sick. That is unprecedented, she said.

CEFCU employees in noncritical areas will be reassigned to essential jobs, she said. The focus is to maintain service without interruption. The credit union headquarters near the Greater Peoria Regional Airport has backup electric generation in the event of power outages, she said.

Sheehan said CEFCU is investigating the contingency plans its vendors have formulated.

"We need to be sure cash is supplied to our ATMs," she said.

Fox said, "This is bigger than any one agency can handle. This could be our worst flu season since 1918, but there is a lot individuals can do themselves to be prepared and be self-sustaining."

For more information about avian flu pandemic, go to www.pcchd.org, www.pandemicflu.gov or www.redcrossillinois.org.

Good post Sand, nice to know that some are taking it seriously.

"This virus is mutating so fast."

 

This article was in an illinois paper.  I checked our local red cross website and all they had was a little simple brochure explaining how to provide health care at home for flu patients in a pandemic.  That is it - nothing else. 

 

I live in a MAJOR metropolitan area and am so dismayed at the lack of attention the media and powers that be give to this topic!

 

The local news finally addressed Nigeria - just this morning.  I do believe this forum will save my life...

They shouldnt start backpeddling. Everything they said is good advice.

I posted this exact article on another page of the flu forum. I think that the news is begining to shift from all the articles acting as if the bird flu might happen if the virus mutates, to making it sound like a more likely scenario. The statement about the virus mutating rapidly also hit me between the eyes. Those words have Never been used before without going on to say but no one knows when or if it will mutate to be easily transmissable to humans. It could be that the media is giving this out in doses so to speak, that they think the public can handle. If all the articles begin to take a turn as this one has or several, I will be convinced that is what is going on.

vstr - Very good insights, I'll be looking for those changes now too.

i still can't get the math right.  If 50%+ of the people who get the disease are dieing from H5N1 and no one has any immunity to the disease, and we have enough tamiflu to take care of say 5% of the people (if they can get a resperator at the hospital).  How is it that the figures i always read is 40% will be absent from work and say 2% or so will die, this just doesn't add up to what i see as reality.  Also the cases in Indonesia where 9 people in a family get the disease and are under medical care with tamiflu, we end up with a fatality rate of around 90%.  Am I just unable to add, or is someone else streatching the truth while they try to candy coat this thing?

There isn't very much coverage in my area as to date. I did however see an emergency backpack displayed at a major mall retailer. That suprised me very much. There were at least 100 of them.  It contained 3 days of water, MRE's, a respirator, gloves, poncho, first aid kit, flashlight and a few other items. You could also purchase another preparednesss kit with just food and water. Not something you ordinarily see in a major upscale clothing retailer! My biggest concern now is getting my son ready to go off to college for the very first time. I am still trying to gear up for that one. I feel a little uneasy about it.

The other day we were at Walmart and the shelves with water and food were more than half bare. Went to my favorite discount store in the evening and saw HUGE carts full, one after the other. I peeked at the contents and it sure looked like "preppers". Lots of cans, dry goods, pasta, rice, beans etc.

ops144 wrote: article say pandemic here in early as sept..??   they need to get facts right first  ..   the virus my well be here this fall but in bird form not h2h yet...   jezz i hate stupid people...that was a bs article on the h5n1 facts!!   the preperation facts where good but that was it.

My thoughts exactly. 

Interesting post.  I am curious as to how a Red Cross or Salvation Army orginaization is preparing.   It would be a real eye opener I'm sure.  But the average Joe who has not begun to wrap thier head around this subject would quite differently than those of us who are part of the corps.

Macrimmons,  I think you are exactly right to make it small and low key.   The other students would tease.  I would think the most important thing for him to have is cash money to help him get home as soon as it looks like it is breaking.  And some masks for traveling and some energy bars or something small to eat, so he doesn't have to talk to food vendors more then is needed.  Is he close enough to come home?  Or is there another relative or family friend he can stay with?  And will he be able to have cash around and not spend it?