The news on today’s Sydney Herald didn’t go down well with my bacon and egg breakfast this morning. It has reported that Australians are being advised to stockpile food and water to last for 14 days after the World Health Organisation yesterday raised the swine flu alert to phase five, signaling imminent pandemic. At the same time, it also reported that a spokesman for the Department of Health and Aging called for calm, saying the Government did not want to spark panic buying. According to the Federal Government’s Plan, a 132-page manual, insist that once the world reaches phase five, Australian should stock their pantry with food and bottled water to last 14 days, check on elderly neighbours and put emergency numbers by the phone. Even though, I am receiving conflicting messages, I couldn’t help but to check on my emergency kit such as batteries, flashlight, first aid, food and water are in order. A habit I have inherited from living in Papua New Guinea where cyclones cause havocs to the local populace during the annual cyclone season.
Although we know that influenza pandemics are natural phenomenon that have occurred from time to time for centuries – and yet the current outbreak of swine flu which originated from Mexico is indeed a worry to everyone of us. It may present a real and daunting challenge to the economic and social wellbeing of any country, as well as a serious risk to the health of its population. In light of today’s jet travel, it is inevitable that we are thinking about the possibility of the virus hitching a ride, to reach us as fast the plane can fly. To be continued...
One say.. please start stocking up.
ReplyDeleteAnother say.. it's too early to start stocking up.
so.. who to believe???????????????????
Hi BY,
ReplyDeleteYa lor, but I am a confessed hoarder. So you know where to find makan if you need help. :)
Cheers.
3 days after I begin my month-off from the medical bus, the swine-flu is made known. Florida does have a lot of Mexicans going back and forth and my husband works in a community health clinic BUT we feel there is no point panicking yet.
ReplyDeleteWashing hands and anti-bacterial gels are musts, no touching of face before that, ALL public door handles, railings, etc are germ carriers. I'm Singaporean so always with tissue paper in pocket or bag.
Hoard food? Hmmm, haven't thought of that yet. Might not be such a bad idea, save drives to Walmart.
Gosh..stockpile..I just run out of food..haha!! a bit paranoid...dun you think?
ReplyDeleteHi Danny,
ReplyDeleteWe were all born in a country free from almost all natural calamities such as bushfire, typhoon,earthquake and tsunami, until we have to live in countries where natural havocs are common even on a yearly basis. I do not want to sound like an alarmist,but having lived through cyclones and an earthquake that completely obliterated a town, I know what it is like not being able to find drinking water and food. I think it is only commonsense even to have a basic emergency kit. Wollongaong is not to far from Sydney but it is too far to walk :). To think of it, I better be prepared to be swamped with Kah Ki Langs... Have to stockpile more leh. Haha.
Cheers,