In case you haven't seen all the news on this virus, here's part II of my research on what is happening with this virus.
A Public Health Emergency has been declared in the US by CDC. From the CNN.com website which is a good source for latest news:
"According to the World Health Organization, a public health emergency is an occurrence or imminent threat of illness or health conditions caused by bioterrorism, epidemic or pandemic disease, or highly fatal infectious agents or toxins that pose serious risk to a significant number of people.
At a White House news conference Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said the emergency declaration is standard procedure -- citing that one was declared for the inauguration and for recent flooding. "
The period of incubation after you have been exposed is about 48 hours. Symptoms if not treated will last on average 7 days and during this time you are contagious. The period of being contagious may last longer than this.
Wearing masks when in public and frequent hand-washing should be practiced while you are contagious or around people with this flu. The virus will survive on hard surfaces for up to 48 hours. So watch those shopping carts. Quarantine of infected people is starting as one way to control the spread.
Suspected cases are now being investigated in New Zealand, Spain, Mexico, Canada and the US.
There are 50,000,000 doses of Tamiflu stockpiled in this country. A vaccine is being investigated but it is far too soon to say if this will become available.
I would suggest you delay travel outside your home area till further developments occur in this story.
And above all, know the symptoms of Type A flu and remain calm. This is NOT a crisis yet. This is not yet a pandemic killer flu like earlier flu pandemics that occurred in 1968 and 1918.
drBob
