Pandemic Threats, Vector and Food-Borne Illness, and the Collapse of Antibiotics
(Complete guide to protecting yourself)
Vibrio cholerae
Last Update: August 2, 2014
From TheCityEdition.com
While the many pandemic and food safety alerts of recent years have produced mercifully few casualties, epidemiologists believe plenty more nail-biting scenarios are coming down the pike. Among those keeping them awake at night:
- The sudden unstoppable spread of an epidemic. Airline travel and global food distribution now allow an outbreak in one corner of the planet to sweep the entire civilized world within days. With so many victims to treat, the quick development and distribution of a vaccine may not be possible.
- The collapse of antibiotics. The proliferation of drug-resistant bacteria like MRSA, C.diff, and even new strains of tuberculosis is generating more and more fatalities from previous treatable illnesses.
- A socio-economic backdrop worldwide that increasingly resembles the Dark Ages. Denser populations crowding into cities and higher poverty rates may be responsible for the resurgence of cholera and other public health nightmares.
- A climate-driven pestilence of biblical proportions. Climate change, with its pattern of alternating drought and deluge, could soon spawn super swarms in bread-basket areas of the world. Hotter temperatures have allowed mosquitoes to migrate from the tropics into more temperate locales and higher altitudes. Cases of malaria and dengue fever are on the rise.
- Worldwide export of a food-borne toxin, disease or bio-threat. Today, imports of grain, produce, fish and meat, vitamin supplements and other food products are so massive, it's impossible to screen more than a fraction of the cargo offloaded each day.
To date, the World Health Organization and U.S. Centers of Disease Control (in conjunction with other public health agencies) have closely monitored outbreaks. Epidemiologists have performed with commendable precision in their battles against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), West Nile Virus, H1N1, the Avian Flu and MRSA.
Unfortunately, continued funding for these government agencies is no longer a sure thing. The prospect a stock market collapse or state default (like the situation in Greece) may prove a showstopper as economic realities begin to eclipse public health priorities. The U.S. Congress has already taken steps to cut the budgets of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Food and Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture. Most recently, the House of Representatives voted to eliminate funding for the USDA's Microbiological Data Program, which tests imported produce for E-coli.
That's why it's important to track pandemic threats and take counter-measures of your own. Of the several basic steps to limit your exposure to contaminants, harmful bacteria and viruses, the first one is to monitor what's going on and track new threats as they emerge. By purchasing or stockpiling essential safety equipment and supplies (including easy-to-obtain natural antibiotics), you'll increase the odds of surviving a fatal outbreak, epidemic or quarantine in the future.
This guide is divided into four sections:
Epidemics, Bacteria and Vaccines
Antibiotics - Losing Ground to MRSA and Other Superbugs
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Websites
Bacteria Cell Structure
CellsAlive.com
International travel and health info
World Health Organization
Emergency Preparedness for Pandemic - Eight-week Supply List (PDF)
HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan
U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Svs
U.S. National Vaccine Plan
HHS
Weekly Epidemiological Record
Latest disease news from WHO
Global Influenza Virological Surveillance WHO Global Alert and Response
Microbiological Data Program
USDA
- Understanding MRSA
- Toxic Mold
- Emerging Infectious Diseases
- Seasonal Influenza (Flu)
- Anthrax
- Foodborne Outbreaks
(e.g. salmonella, E. coli) - Food Product Recalls
- Anti-biotic Resistance
- Travelers' Health
- Epidemic Intelligence Service
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases (e.g. malaria, lyme disease)
Food, Disease and Biosecurity Monitoring U.S. Dept. of Agriculture
Bad Bug Handbook
USDA
National Invasive Species Info Center USDA
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Environmental Protection Agency
DVD's, Videos and TV Programs
Preventative tips to limit exposure to viruses, bacteria and flu outbreaks YouTube
Mega Disasters: "Pandemics and Alien Infection" - Season 2, Episode 7. The History Channel At Amazon...
After Armageddon. 2-hour docudrama examines the potential of a lethal flu virus spreading quickly across the United States.
The History Channel At Amazon...
The Plague. 2-hour documentary tracks the 15th Century pandemic that killed millions.
The History Channel Buy at Amazon...
Optional Index:
Pandemics - Intro
Viruses, Vaccines & Epidemics
Antibiotics vs. Superbugs
Vector-Borne Illness
Food-Borne Illness
