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40,000 Marin Schoolkids Get Bird Flu Warning
Jeffrey Schaub
Reporting
(CBS 5) SAN RAFAEL Health officials recently sent 40,000 fliers home with Marin County schoolchildren warning parents to prepare for a possible bird flu pandemic in California.
The avian flu has killed dozens of people in Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa. Now, concern over the virus has reached Marin County.
The flier sent home with school students warns that if an avian flu pandemic were to hit California, thousands or perhaps millions could become very sick.
"All of us in public health are quite concerned," said Dr. Fred Schwartz, the county's chief health officer. "We may find a situation where 30 to 40 percent of people are becoming infected. That translates to 30 to 40 percent absenteeism at businesses, utilities, schools and the health care sector."
Taking emergency guidelines established by the President himself, Marin is among several Bay Area counties that have begun preparing to distribute avian flu literature to the public, even though there is no immediate threat of a global pandemic.
The fliers sent home with Marin's schoolkids urge families to stock up not on the usual 72 hours of emergency supplies but rather two weeks' supply of food and water, extra prescription drugs, and over-the-counter cold and flu medications.
"The illnesses that we might expect in a pandemic influenza could last for one or two weeks," Schwartz said.
A family of four would need to store 56 gallons of water to last two weeks.
"I would do it," said Marla Fields, of the preparedness plan's call to store two weeks' supply of water. "Just to protect my kids and my husband."
Another parent, Marcus James, added, "I think people need to start thinking about these things because they are going to become a reality at some point."
http://cbs5.com/local/local_story_354201647.html
(Hat tip to Doug at Planforpandemic.com)
Jeffrey Schaub
Reporting
(CBS 5) SAN RAFAEL Health officials recently sent 40,000 fliers home with Marin County schoolchildren warning parents to prepare for a possible bird flu pandemic in California.
The avian flu has killed dozens of people in Asia, Eastern Europe, and Africa. Now, concern over the virus has reached Marin County.
The flier sent home with school students warns that if an avian flu pandemic were to hit California, thousands or perhaps millions could become very sick.
"All of us in public health are quite concerned," said Dr. Fred Schwartz, the county's chief health officer. "We may find a situation where 30 to 40 percent of people are becoming infected. That translates to 30 to 40 percent absenteeism at businesses, utilities, schools and the health care sector."
Taking emergency guidelines established by the President himself, Marin is among several Bay Area counties that have begun preparing to distribute avian flu literature to the public, even though there is no immediate threat of a global pandemic.
The fliers sent home with Marin's schoolkids urge families to stock up not on the usual 72 hours of emergency supplies but rather two weeks' supply of food and water, extra prescription drugs, and over-the-counter cold and flu medications.
"The illnesses that we might expect in a pandemic influenza could last for one or two weeks," Schwartz said.
A family of four would need to store 56 gallons of water to last two weeks.
"I would do it," said Marla Fields, of the preparedness plan's call to store two weeks' supply of water. "Just to protect my kids and my husband."
Another parent, Marcus James, added, "I think people need to start thinking about these things because they are going to become a reality at some point."
http://cbs5.com/local/local_story_354201647.html
(Hat tip to Doug at Planforpandemic.com)