1. Move inside a building.
2. Close ALL windows and doors.
4. Listen to your LOCAL radio or TV (keep a
battery-operated radio handy).
Wash your hands often to protect
yourself from germs.
Cough into your sleeve or cover
your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. It may
prevent those around you from getting sick.
Stay home from work, school, and
errands when you are sick. You will help prevent others from catching
your illness.
Avoid close contact with people
who are sick. When you are sick, keep your distance from others to
protect them from getting sick too.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose or
mouth. Germs are often spread when a person touches something that is
contaminated with germs and then touches his or her eyes, nose, or
mouth.
Practice other good health habits.
Keep yourself strong – and more resistant to disease – by getting plenty
of sleep,
PREPARE YOUR FAMILY FOR EMERGENCIES
Pandemic Information
Update
|
Fast
Facts
Influenza pandemics involve the rapid spread of a novel
(most people have no immunity against it) influenza
virus across the world, resulting in an unusually high
number of illnesses and deaths for approximately 2 to 3
years. Such pandemics occurred in 1918, 1957, and 1968.
At
times, false alarms do occur where a novel influenza
virus emerges that causes a few human cases of severe
illness or death, but never succeeds in causing
widespread human illness. Scientists can monitor these
viruses, but can't predict the outcome.
It
is impossible to know whether the currently spreading
influenza type A (H5N1) virus will cause a human
pandemic. |
www.pandemicflu.gov (click for current information on
pandemic flu and Avian Influenza ("bird flu")).
"What can I
do now to prepare my family for pandemic influenza?"
Answer:
First, the world's public health community is on alert and
watching the avian influenza type A H5N1 virus (known as the
bird flu) carefully. Right now no influenza virus qualifies as a
pandemic virus, including H5N1. While scientists are watching
the H5N1 virus, they must also look for other influenza viruses
that could change to become a threat to human health, and
possibly qualify as a pandemic influenza virus.
Still, it's
good to be concerned about emergency preparedness. If a pandemic
influenza outbreak were to occur in your community, schools and
business could be closed. Plan ahead for situations in which you
might have to take care of yourself and your family without
leaving home. Think about essential supplies like food and
medicine.
Influenza
viruses spread easily, including seasonal influenza. Handwashing
and cough etiquette reduce the chances of becoming ill. Teach
your children how to wash their hands to protect them from
viruses that cause influenza and colds. For more on handwashing
and cough etiquette, check
www.cdc.gov/cleanhands and
www.cdc.gov/flu/protect/covercough.htm.
