This report was originally published by Lisa Egan at Tess Pennington’s Ready Nutrition
Tess is the author of The Prepper’s Blueprint: How To Survive ANY Disaster.
It has been 100 years since the Spanish Flu (also known as the 1918 flu pandemic) spread across the globe, infecting 500 million people and causing the deaths of 50 million – which was three to five percent of the world’s population at the time.
Imagine the catastrophic numbers in today’s time if a similar flu hit – and how quickly it would spread from the ease in transportation modern society allows.
While you can rest easy right now knowing a global pandemic is not currently a threat, it is just a matter of time before the next one arrives.
Although modern medicine has a lot more flu-fighting tricks in its arsenal than it did several decades ago, the risk of a pandemic flu killing many is still very real.
The growing population, ease in global travel, civil conflict, a marked decrease in medical facilities in outbreak regions, and a decrease in CDC resources could all create a perfect storm for an epidemic to rapidly get out of control and become a pandemic.
In The Big One Is Coming, and It’s Going to Be a Flu Pandemic, Dr. Sanjay Gupta wrote that when a highly lethal flu pandemic comes, it will affect everyone alive today:
Pandemic flu is apolitical and does not discriminate between rich and poor. Geographical boundaries are meaningless, and it can circle the globe within hours.
Dr. Gupta goes on to explain that when most people hear “flu”, they think of seasonal flu, but pandemic flu is “a different animal, and you should understand the difference.”
Panˈdemik/: pan means “all”; demic (or demographic) means “people.” It is well-named, because pandemic flu spreads easily throughout the world. Unlike seasonal flu, pandemics occur when a completely new or novel virus emerges. This sort of virus can emerge directly from animal reservoirs or be the result of a dramatic series of mutations — so-called reassortment events — in previously circulating viruses.
In either case, the result is something mankind has never seen before: a pathogen that can spread easily from person to defenseless person, our immune systems never primed to launch any sort of defense.
While outbreaks of deadly exotic diseases like Ebola get a lot of attention in the press and are a terrifying prospect, viruses like it (and Zika) are not likely to cause a global catastrophe. That’s because the method of transmission is much slower and complex – Ebola and Zika are mainly spread via bodily fluids and mosquitoes, respectively.
A recent study on naturally occurring microorganisms that constitute a global catastrophic biological risk (GCBR) was conducted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, and a report on the findings was published earlier this year.
You may be wondering what exactly a “GCBR” is. The report explains:
GCBRs are defined as “those events in which biological agents—whether naturally emerging or reemerging, deliberately created and released, or laboratory engineered and escaped—could lead to sudden, extraordinary, widespread disaster beyond the collective capability of national and international governments and the private sector to control. If unchecked, GCBRs would lead to great suffering, loss of life, and sustained damage to national governments, international relationships, economies, societal stability, or global security.”
Although most classes of microbe could evolve or be manipulated in ways that would cause a catastrophic risk to humans, viruses are the most likely class of microorganism to have this ability.
“We need to get serious about respiratory viruses,” said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in Baltimore, who led the research.
[There’s] a lot of focus on diseases that aren’t going to be able to change civilization in a way that something that’s spread through the respiratory route would be.”
The study found that in addition to being airborne, pathogens with the potential to cause a global disaster would probably have the following traits, reports Live Science:
If the last trait in that list caused you to feel a little relieved, well…don’t get too comfortable: Dr. Adalja told Live Science that a pathogen doesn’t have to have a high fatality rate, or kill the majority of people infected, to cause majority societal disruptions. “It just has to make a lot of people sick,” he said. Pathogens with high fatality rates often kill people too fast to have a chance to infect a lot of new hosts and become a widespread problem.
The researchers found that within the viral class, a group known as RNA viruses have the most potential to cause a global pandemic of disastrous proportions. In part, this is because these viruses mutate more easily than other types do. Well-known viruses such as the flu, SARS, common cold viruses (like enteroviruses and rhinoviruses), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are RNA viruses.
In The Prepper’s Blueprint pandemic preparedness is a vital part of emergency preparedness and health officials believe this could happen again.
“Since pandemics are fast moving, vaccinations would be useless. When an outbreak occurs, those living in cities, and those living in close proximity to others will be more at risk. Statistics from previous pandemics indicate that 30–60 percent of the population will contract an illness. Any pregnant women, infants, elderly people, or those with chronic medical conditions are also at risk and could be the first of the population to contract the contagious illness. When the pandemic begins, many will remain in a state of denial about any approaching epidemics and not want to think of the long-lasting repercussions of such a disaster. Being prepared before the mass come out of their daze will ensure that you are better prepared before the hoards run to the store to stock up. Having first-hand knowledge of the government’s protocols before this type of emergency arises can help put you ahead of the game. Understanding that our lives will change drastically if the population is faced with a pandemic and being prepared for this can help you make better choices toward the well being of your family. Some changes could be:
As explained in the article Are You Ready Series: Pandemic Preparedness, community preparedness will play a large role in preventing the spread of an illness. The Federal Government has developed a Pandemic Severity Index that is used to assess the severity of an epidemic. If the government believes it is necessary, pandemic mitigation measures are activated.
Here are some of those measures:
Because pandemic flu spreads so quickly, and because developing and distributing a vaccination for a new flu virus usually takes at least six months, it is not likely that a vaccine would offer many benefits. And, it is unlikely that seasonal flu vaccines would be of any use for a pandemic flu virus because they are not designed to protect against new influenza A viruses. Seasonal flu vaccines do not have a good track record as it is; the shot’s effectiveness for the 2017-2018 flu season was an estimated 36%.
Preparing for a pandemic is a lot more difficult than preparing for a typical flu season, but there are things you can do to try to avoid infection and manage it if it does threaten your community.
With any type of disaster or emergency, the responsibility falls more heavily upon our shoulders to ensure that we are able to meet our needs. Self-reliance is key in this type of disaster because you will not want to venture into town or come in contact with the public.
So how do we prepare properly for this type of emergency?
Taking proper illness precautions is crucial:
Here are a few more ideas to consider on how to better prepare your family for this type of emergency:
Boosting your immune system can help you avoid becoming sick, or reduce the severity of illness should you become infected.
There are some natural ways to amp up the body’s immune system with a flu-fighting arsenal that includes eating healthfully, herbal teas, essential oils, hand washing, drinking plenty of water, taking vitamins, and of course, getting enough sleep.
Some foods that will provide you with optimum health are:
Mushrooms are an untapped medicinal food that can help fend off the flu due to their high antioxidant content and anti-viral and antibiotic properties. With their high protein content, they can be used as meat alternatives.
Bone broth is another way to boost your health. This used to be a healing dietary staple our ancestors regularly consumed, along with fermented foods. Bone broth can aid in digestion, contains minerals that are easily absorbed, and is great for the immune system. Bone marrow helps the immune system by carrying oxygen to cells in the body.
Drink lots of water. Simply put, water helps to filter the impurities out of your body. Over time, this keeps your body functioning and in optimum health.
Take your vitamins. Vitamins A, B, C, D, and E have been shown to promote a healthy immune system. Take a high quality, organic multi-vitamin.
Although the sun is the best way to receive vitamin D, if you can’t get outside because of weather conditions or other circumstances, supplementation can help. Take at least 3000-5000 IUs of Vitamin D3 daily – research has shown a link between a Vitamin D deficit and susceptibility to the flu. (This one has 5000 IUs
Vitamin C and Zinc, in particular, are helpful immune-boosters. Since our bodies do not naturally make vitamin C, we need to get it through supplementation in order to boost our bone, muscle, cartilage and vascular health. The best way to get vitamin C is right from the source. Rather than taking a GMO vitamin, make your own vitamin C powder.
These Zinc Lozenges 
Turning toward natural remedies now will give you the knowledge and skills you need to keep your family well during flu season and in the event of a pandemic flu. As well, consider learning ways to make homemade lozenges to soothe sore throats, or possessing basic knowledge on which herbs may be used to treat cold/flu symptoms. Further, knowing how to combine these together to make cold/flu syrups (including this Homemade Elderberry Syrup) will only better your family’s chances at beating the cold/flu season when OTC medicines aren’t as readily available.
Any steps taken toward preparedness are better than none at all, so do what you can. Remember, medical facilities are likely to be overwhelmed, understaffed, and under-stocked in the event of a pandemic, so it is very possible you and your loved ones will have to manage the illness at home.
Here’s a list of pandemic supplies to stock up on:
for sealing off doorways and vents
(2-3 boxes)Pandemics are not common, but they still should not be taken lightly. Do not rely on preparation at the federal, state, and local levels – preparing at the individual level NOW will ensure your best chance for survival should a pandemic reach your area.
Additional Articles:
Creating a Family Preparedness Plan
Short-Term Emergency Checklist
Emergency Evacuation Checklist
5 Ways to Keep Your Vehicle Ready For Emergencies
Checklist for Preparing the Home Exterior For a Disaster
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Additional Resources:
The Prepper’s Blueprint: The Step-By-Step Guide To Help You Through Any Disaster
Prepper’s Home Defense: Security Strategies to Protect Your Family by Any Means Necessary
The Survival Medicine Handbook: A Guide for When Help is Not on the Way
SAS Survival Handbook, Revised Edition: For Any Climate, in Any Situation
Tess Pennington is the author of The Prepper’s Blueprint, a comprehensive guide that uses real-life scenarios to help you prepare for any disaster. Because a crisis rarely stops with a triggering event the aftermath can spiral, having the capacity to cripple our normal ways of life. The well-rounded, multi-layered approach outlined in the Blueprint helps you make sense of a wide array of preparedness concepts through easily digestible action items and supply lists.
Tess is also the author of the highly rated Prepper’s Cookbook, which helps you to create a plan for stocking, organizing and maintaining a proper emergency food supply and includes over 300 recipes for nutritious, delicious, life-saving meals.
Visit her website at ReadyNutrition.com for an extensive compilation of free information on preparedness, homesteading, and healthy living.
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If you were to study the 1918 pandemic then you would discover that influenza happened in three seperate waves. So it wasn’t surviving a bout, but a series of bouts of it.
What happened was close quarters, say in a military barracks, in a dormitory, in a prison, in a hospital, then transmitted the illness. If you are vigilant, you watch for these reports.
Social distancing is what saved the most people. They cancelled public gatherings, and when they did, they have the fewest casualties.
In some circumstances, it was so swift that people died within 24 hours. It’s been noted before that in some cases of influenza, it vastly affects the normally healthy by stimulating a cytokine storm. It’s an overreaction where the immune system attacks so strongly, it kills the patient.
The leftist media never reports this, but in history white women took brave risks and volunteered as nurses. They cared for the sick in makeshift quarantine field hospitals. Lots of white men buried the dead and built coffins.
One of the chief issues under such a collapse who be how we could safely bury the dead and not affect sanitation. And still pay attention to spirituality.
It’s also seldom reported,but a fact that osteopaths successfully used the “osteopathic lymphatic drainage pump” technique on their patients and saved a LOT. The allopaths had no way to treat patients except supportive measures. In Kentucky, there still is a school for osteopaths. The same is true in Maine.
It’s spread by droplets and fomites and contact. If you don’t get close, and enter contaminated homes, you probably won’t get sick.
Where pandemic flu gets bad is when it is airbourne or water bourne. These are dangerous mutations.
WTF?
An article on this site that actually has to do with prepping?
Shocked, I am.
How to avoid the flu: Stay away from people.
Avoid all types of vaccines, especially the flu vaccine. Last time I took a flu shot I got sick only 2 hours AFTER getting the shot. I’ve had flu a few times since then so I take Theraflu, nighttime formula. The I get under the covers and sweat it out, letting my pores open up. Next morning I’m as good as new.
Because of insurance coverage, my husband had to change physicians.
When asked about vaccinations, my husband, rather than getting into a long explanation about why he refuses vaccines, told the doctor that he had been vaccinated at a local pharmacy.
The physician asked which pharmacy he had gone to, and within moments the doctor told us that the pharmacy had no record of him ever being vaccinated.
The doctor then proceeded to lecture us about the insanity, ignorance, selfishness and extreme danger of not getting a flu vaccine and the Prevnar 13 vaccine for Streptococcal pneumonia that day.
He then told us that Medicare would give him “demerits” if my husband didn’t agree to be vaccinated, and that he might not get paid by Medicare because of our refusal.
The pressure by this Millennial snowflake, soy boy and big Pharma whore was incredibly coercive and threatening.
Needless to say this guy will be dumped.
WARNING: NEVER NEVER EVER TAKE ANY VACCINES EVER, its a trick to poison you and your family. Vaccines cause autism in children and contain Mercury. Keep your body pure, never ever take any vaccines ever.
Why do you think they give Vaccines away for Free? Its a death sentence. Suicide by Vaccine. Even a local Winn Dixie in my area was giving a $10 free SE Grocer food coupon if you took this tocic dump flu vaccine. Its a criminal con job on the uneducated poor. Very Shameful. Fascist murders.
WARNING: NEVER NEVER EVER TAKE ANY VACCINES EVER, its a trick to poison you and your family. Vaccines cause autism in children and contain Mercury. Keep your body pure, never ever take any vaccines ever..
Why do you think they give Vaccines away for Free??? Its a death sentence. Suicide by Vaccine. Even a local Winn Dixie in my area was giving a $10 free SE Grocer food coupon if you took this tocic dump flu vaccine.. Its a criminal con job on the uneducated poor. Very Shameful.. Fascist drug pushing murders. Once that crap is in your system you are marked by the beast.
LAST CHANCE TO STOCK UP ON .999 SILVER, AS IT WENT BACK OVER $15 AN OZ LAST NIGHT. ABOUT TO HEAD TO THE MOON THIS FALL WHEN ALL THE OTHER DOZENS OF BUBBLES GO POP AND CRASH. LAST CHANCE. YOU BEEN WARNED BEFORE THE DOLLAR IS CRASHED. HOW YOU GONA BUY STUFF WHEN THE DOLLAR IS DESTROYED INTO NOTHING? SILVER AND GOLD ARE MONEY.
I decided to stock up on marijuana.
That way when I get a fever, it can chill……
Yeah stock up on natural medicine, provided by mother earth. But don’t share your peace pipe with others. Never let anyone else put their slimy lips on your one hitter.. Those days of sharing joints, puff puff pass are over. That’s how you share germs, bacteria, the flu and other diseases.
How to do the osteopathic lymphatic drainage pump technique.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB4pjIJflU4
This was the ONLY technique that worked in the 1918 Pandemic Flu.
If the patient has a low grade fever, has clear phlegm, but not aches and pains, it is generally just flu and viral.
A sudden severe headache worse than you have ever known is a very bad sign and especially if you have a very stiff neck and light sensitivity. That can mean a brain infection.
When a pandemic flu’s symptoms are known, write that down and look for these in your family.
If the patient has over a 101 fever, yellow phlegm, aches and pains, then it probably is bacterial.
A viral infection can be so bad, as the patients do terrible things like swallow their phlegm that their immune system gets weakened. If they can’t sleep, then they can get secondary bacterial infections.
There are medical diagnostic charts where you follow troubleshooting guides and then it’s possible it is bacterial and then suggests antibiotics based upon signs and symptoms. In a dire situation, with no hospital possible, say when very isolated, it fish antibiotic time.
If the patient has stinky phlegm that is greenish, they almost certainly will have aches and pains, bad sore throats, might have nausea, and they can get so congested that it doesn’t drain normally.
You then can do percussive therapy which respiratory therapists do and teach parents of cystic fibrosis patients, among others.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc3bK7i3FAM
Phlegm shoud be clear. When it has color, it’s indicative of dying white blood cells. When it smells, that is when it can be dire and threatening under unstable situations.
The reason you cough is to clear mucus as it begins to clog the bronchial tubes which are the main air passages leading down and into the ends where the alveoli are. It’s a reflex action. The more clogged it is (generally) the worse the cough.
If a cough is bad with stinky bacteria phlegm, don’t use menthol as it encourages mucus formation. This just exacerbates the situation.
What they typically do is offer a breathing treatment and this enlarges the bronchial tube and offers relief as then the patient gets more oxygen and doesn’t feel like they are choking.
The problem is there are limited inhalers now that are over the counter. If you cut a hole in a throwaway water bottle, and spray the inhaler into this, and the patient breathes that, it disburses the medication better. This is called an extender. Asthma patients should know what I am talking about.
Anyone with breathing issues or who cares for them has to be vigilant as if they get the flu on top of say existing COPD, it can be very serious.
This was said by a maintenance contractor from Louisiana inn oil refinery in NJ.
“The problem is cement”. “Back home we had no cement and no problems”. “Up here you have some cement and some problems”. “In New York City they have all cement and all problems”
Moral of the story. Keep away from cement.
It really is a concrete jungle.
Yahooie, I’m in a concrete jungle.
I think Cement is like a sponge to harbor germs. And that BS of how great Granite counter tops are is nonsense. It also is a Germ trap for all sorts of bacteria. And people use Granite for countertops where you prepare your food. BAD CHOICE- stay away from Granite countertops. The most costly over rated disease carrier out there. And Granite can also contain Uranium, Radon and emits Radiation. Radon causes cancer. Good Job Dumbass Home Builders.
For amazing immunity read Dr Joel Fuhrman’s book “Superimmunity”. Here’s a description https://www.doctoroz.com/article/dr-joel-fuhrman-super-immunity-diet. I had that book and loaned it to a neighbor who liked it so much they kept it. Be forewarned this doctor is not a fan of animal products; he personally is vegan but understands the draw to meat. Yes, he’s a genuine MD practicing in NJ but believes in food for health not drugs. His recipes are delicious including brownies, ice cream, etc. so no deprivation.
Here’s another site with super immunity info http://naturalsociety.com/7-habits-super-immunity/ and natural antibiotics in case: http://naturalsociety.com/8-natural-antibiotics-immune-system-ditch-pharmaceuticals/
There is more but these should help point the way.
PS It helps if you like to cook (I do so no problem.) so that you know your food is nourishing vice stuff in a box posing as edible.
Bacon fat and other animal fats, such as butter, are missing from the list. Bacon fat actually contains the same kind of medium-chain triglycerides as coconut oil. I didn’t see any mention of herbs and spices; turmeric, garlic (high amounts), oregano oil and capsaicin (hot peppers/hot sauce) are all highly potent as well.
Ginger is your friend.
Ginger root is anti-nausea. Ginger-ale is great when you’re sick. Always have some bottled Mineral water on hand. Don’t get dehydrated.
An enema may be the only way to get fluids if someone can’t drink.
Vick’s Vapo-rub and a vaporizer help with congestion. Make a tent with a sheet or muslin tarp to keep the mist contained. A shower or run a hot bath and the steam acts like a vaporizer. But it is better to be able to mist a sick person while they are in bed.
A recipe for a sports drink or for the sick is:
1 quart water
2 or 3 tablespoons honey
1/8 cup Apple cider vinegar.
Ginger tea, ginger cough drops, even ginger cookies help settle the stomach.
_
1/8 cup is the same as 2 tablespoons
There are 16 tablespoons in 1 cup.
Honey should never be given to infants under one year.
Just mix the honey and vinegar. Add it to a quart of water. Stir and drink.
_
Besides that Sexual Diva Ginger, Maryann was also pretty hot lil’ number. Maryann and Gilligan used to smoke pot together. Mary Ann still lives somewhere down at St Petersburg Bch FL
Dawn Wells (Mary Ann) still looks very nice coming up on her 80th.
Phoenix, indeed many herbs have powerful medicinal properties.
Dr Sanjay Gupta is a moron and did not mention, nor the writer mention that the real problem of such an event is the fact that doctors gave out far too many antibiotics for decades. In other words the doctors like Gupta himself are part of the problem !
The other issue is simply that most Americans have compromised and weak immune systems. But that is easily resolved, just not by pea brains who believe people like Gupta !
Another example of prepper junk thinking from a supposed professional prepper type, what ever that is ?
The best thing you can do now is just stay healthy as you can.
Stock up on meds and stay away from as many people as you can.
Don’t forget to wash your hands.
Sgt.
Sgt,
You are so right. In a total SHTF, a big SAMs Club bottle of ibuprofen, Tylenol, aspirin, or Imodium etc could be sold for big bucks a dozen pills at a time. Simple meds that control fever and basic health issues are now selling in Argentina for huge dollars.
I’ve always thought that if there was hours notice, and you could make one last run to a big box store, what would be on your list? You nailed it.
Most flu like diseases kill either by creating high fevers that cause convulsions, brain damage, or morph into pneumonia.
Hot tip, Advile PM or Tylenol PM use a common decongestant to make people sleep, it can be effective in reducing flu related fluids in the sinuses and lungs.
Hurry up and run out and buy all the items they just listed. That way it’ll be expired and worthless by the time something for real comes down. Whats going to happen first? WWZ,cme,emp?
YEP,, my several Potassium Iodide pills expired. Even though it is past the exp date, it slowly looses its effectiveness. I would say its called half life of shelf products. How much BS do I need to keep on replacing especially drugs? So just buy it in small quantities.
Candles – an open flame can destroy organic contaminants in the air (as air passes through) as well as help clean with ionization.
If the power grid is up or you have long term alternative power, air ionizers for collecting airborne particulates.
boyo, just grow some sage and Oregon grape and burn them both for incense and your air will be purified as well a smell really good. Oregon grape is highly antiseptic, antifungal and works well all by itself in a tea or tincture made easily.
Or as many say here go buy a bunch of meds and other junk that will likely make you more sickly ~!
There are many other medicinal berbs easily grown and it very easy to maintain a very strong immune system.
If you’re worried about expiration of your iodine, put it back into your garden for veggie or fruit uptake uptake.
Waste not…
Iodine last for decades, no need to worry except preppers just seem to do that a lot about everything as they grow ever fatter and less healthy hoping to buy solutions because they are lazy and don’t realize they are the solution themselves !
Everything about our health and well being is a choice. That will never change no matter what. Until people can grasp that fact they are more or less doomed to their own ignorance.
Roaches, rats, bedbugs, et al, bullet casings and spent needles in the street, were rare, here, until you redlined the entire third world into the suburbs. Every wiped nose and rearend is a pandemic flu; they happen about twice a week, now. Manholes become sulfrous during peak use hours. If it’s airborn, you breathed it.
The info link to essential oils is rather spurious. Perhaps the most important EO’s to store for pandemic flu are nigella sativa, thieves oil and oregano. The article didn’t mention colloidal Silver either.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqTLXN-W-Z8
OH yeh , be sure to get your flu shot this season and all your vaccinations kept up to date so the pandemic can’t get you ? Or is that why you are already weak and sickly ?
If you properly use a Netti pot, your chance of getting a respiratory infection drops to nearly nothing as you irrigated the nasal passage and that is where it gets introduced and coloninizes.
But should you get exposed and acquire a respiratory infection, here is what works for me. I take fresh garlic cloves and mash them up and add genuine honey (not that junk that is cheaper) and eat these to coat the throat. You are trying to prevent colonization with inexpensive self-care. Then alternate an hour later with a salt water gargle.
As long as you don’t have heart issues, then throat coat tea which contains slipperly elm and licorice will solve the worst sore throat.
This inexpensive solution should vastly reduce all but the worst influenza. Never ignore aches and pains and that typically is a sign of a secondary bacterial infection. Under a disaster condition and especially if alone, that could be fatal. You could get pneumonia and that historically caused mortality.
If alone, sleep sitting up to facilitate breathing. If blood pressure falls, elevate the patient’s legs higher than their trunk to restore total blood volume and attempt to get them to eat. They cannot tolerate weakness plus infection.