Bird Flu: A Disconnect Between Government, Science, and Common Sense

This article questions whether the American public is receiving accurate and truthful information from officials about a possible avian influenza pandemic. The article draws attention to a newsletter sent from the United States State Department to Americans living in Hong Kong, which recommended that in the event of severe pandemic influenza residents have a 12-week supply of water, food and other emergency items. The communication was later amended to read a 2-week supply instead of the initial 12.

According to the article, this change from a 12-week supply to a 2-week supply was indicative of government secrecy and efforts to downplay the danger of an avian flu pandemic. The article also refers to the Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza, which recommends that people have a 2-week supply of survival items to prepare for a pandemic, as another example of the government withholding information in an effort to quell public panic.

According to the article, in the event of an outbreak of pandemic influenza, a 2-week emergency supply would leave many families without food or water, leading to food and energy shortages and possible violence related to these shortages. The article outlines some things that people can do to prepare for a possible bird flu outbreak, including having a method of water purification, a supply of stored food and safety masks/respirators. The article also refers people to the Plan For Flu website
for practical information and other ways that people can prepare themselves for a possible bird flu pandemic.