April 25, 2009
Stocking Up On Goods: Just In Case
Update 4/30: Australians in Queensland advised to stockpile food in case of Swine Flu, read here.
Mexico City has been shut down. Mexico has mandated quarantine to some extent across the country. Schools are closing and public events are cancelled.
This is not a drill. The Mexican Swine Flu, a combination "avian flu, human flu Type A, human flu Type B, Asian swine flu, and European swine flu" according to the CDC and mentioned in this editorial.
I read that a guy in Mexico City was arrested for trying to sell paper facemasks for 25 times the face value.
Tonight my wife and I stopped at Walgreen's and bought two boxes of face masks. The product is from Medline.com and we paid $7.50 for 10 masks. Two boxes set us back $15 + the 10% California sales tax.
My wife is certain the same product can be bought for $3.50 to $4.00 per box at WalMart.
No matter, we paid the premium. If extended family or neighbors need a mask we will share. If things go bad these masks will become scarce.
Next stop a big box grocer, not Costco, I didn't want to face the lines.
We stocked up on canned goods, pasta, pasta sauce, juices, frozen vegetables, salsa, bread for freezing, canned beans, rice and other frozen foods.
What good will all this do? Maybe nothing but as I said above, just in case. It's not that I believe there will be shortages, it's just that I want to be able to stay clear of the stores if this gets crazy.
I can say without a doubt there is no hoarding or any panic whatsoever in my community in Central California.
If it does get crazy it appears those that have flu shots, generally the young and old, may have some built in immunity or at least enough to blunt a fatal blow according to the CDC.
At least two anti-virals including Tamiflu are effective against this concoction but in the case of a widespread outbreak the stores of Tamiflu could be depleted.
Here is another worthwhile article written by an epidemiologist.
HHS recommends food storage, generally.
Update: Americans encouraged to wear masks if worried.
Mexico City has been shut down. Mexico has mandated quarantine to some extent across the country. Schools are closing and public events are cancelled.
This is not a drill. The Mexican Swine Flu, a combination "avian flu, human flu Type A, human flu Type B, Asian swine flu, and European swine flu" according to the CDC and mentioned in this editorial.
I read that a guy in Mexico City was arrested for trying to sell paper facemasks for 25 times the face value.
Tonight my wife and I stopped at Walgreen's and bought two boxes of face masks. The product is from Medline.com and we paid $7.50 for 10 masks. Two boxes set us back $15 + the 10% California sales tax.
My wife is certain the same product can be bought for $3.50 to $4.00 per box at WalMart.
No matter, we paid the premium. If extended family or neighbors need a mask we will share. If things go bad these masks will become scarce.
Next stop a big box grocer, not Costco, I didn't want to face the lines.
We stocked up on canned goods, pasta, pasta sauce, juices, frozen vegetables, salsa, bread for freezing, canned beans, rice and other frozen foods.
What good will all this do? Maybe nothing but as I said above, just in case. It's not that I believe there will be shortages, it's just that I want to be able to stay clear of the stores if this gets crazy.
I can say without a doubt there is no hoarding or any panic whatsoever in my community in Central California.
If it does get crazy it appears those that have flu shots, generally the young and old, may have some built in immunity or at least enough to blunt a fatal blow according to the CDC.
At least two anti-virals including Tamiflu are effective against this concoction but in the case of a widespread outbreak the stores of Tamiflu could be depleted.
Here is another worthwhile article written by an epidemiologist.
HHS recommends food storage, generally.
Update: Americans encouraged to wear masks if worried.
Comments:
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Hey, Mike! When I first read this post, I thought you were out to lunch. But now? I think you were thinking ahead. Masks will be hard to come by, although much questioning about how effective they will be. Stocking up on food to avoid crowds was a good idea. Being so isolated, I am always stocked up - at least 3-4 months at any given time. I'm a survivalist by necessity.
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# posted by 
: April 30, 2009 8:47 AM
: April 30, 2009 8:47 AM<< Home
