Worldwide Caution
Right around Thanksgiving I received an e-mail with the subject heading ¨Worldwide Caution.¨ I thought it must be more spam, but checked it anyway. In fact, it was a message from the United States Department of State, by way of the American Embassy in Podgorica, Montenegro. The topic was the Avian flu, and what Americans abroad should do to prepare for an outbreak.
I suppose I don´t take this particular threat too seriously. SciDev.Net, however, notes that ¨the H5N1 bird flu virus has spread worldwide, and the influenza pandemic it could trigger will hit developing countries the hardest.¨ Keeping this threat in mind, and knowing what a thrillseeker I am, I suspect that my response to a local outbreak in a region where I was travelling would be to run like mad to the nearest international airport. But that brings us to one of the points of the caution from the State Department: ¨commercial airlines might drastically curtail or even cease operations.¨
So, I could be stuck. Not a pretty picture for those travelling. But, for those living abroad the caution suggests, in fact recommends, ¨sheltering in place¨ AKA ¨social distancing.¨ In other words, hunker down and quarantine the rest of the world around you. ¨Americans abroad should evaluate their situation and prepare emergency supplies accordingly (non-perishable food, potable water, medicines, etc.) for the possibility of sheltering-in-place for at least two and up to twelve weeks.¨
Two weeks! I can´t imagine how that could have worked in Montenegro. I went shopping every day. I would have had to load up cupboards with instant pasta sauce. Najo´s refrigerator could only have held so many bags of frozen veggies, and since these aren´t exactly abundant in a city where the green market operates every day, that means I would have had to buy up everything in stock at the one store in town that carried frozen produce. All of this just refers to how I would implement such a plan. I´m not even going to contemplate what it would have meant to miss morning walks and coffee on the korzo.
For those interested, I have included the complete letter from the U.S. embassy in the extended entry.
Notice #01-06 American Embassy Podgorica
November 24, 2006
WORLDWIDE CUATION - AVIAN INFLUENZA AND HOW TO PREPARE FOR "SHELTERING-IN-PLACE"
Health professionals are concerned that the continued spread of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) virus among animals in Asia, Africa, the Middle East and Europe has the potential to significantly threaten human health. If a virus such as H5N1 mutates and spreads easily from one person to another, avian influenza may break out globally. While there are no reports of sustained human-to-human transmission of avian influenza, the U.S. government and international health agencies are preparing for a possible pandemic.
Depending on the severity of a pandemic, commercial airlines might drastically curtail or even cease operations. Travel restrictions could also impede people from returning to the United States or fleeing to other countries. For these reasons, it may make more sense to "shelter-in-place" (i.e. stay home and practice "social distancing" to avoid contagion) for an appropriate period of time.
United States Residents: The Department of Health and Human Services suggests that US residents prepare two weeks of emergency supplies (food, water, medicine, etc.) in order to shelter-in-place during an influenza pandemic.
American Citizens Abroad: Due to varying conditions overseas, Americans abroad should evaluate their situation and prepare emergency supplies accordingly (non-perishable food, potable water, medicines, etc.) for the possibility of sheltering-in-place for at least two and up to twelve weeks. Water purification techniques such as boiling, filtering and/or adding chlorine to locally available rainwater, swimming pools, lakes, rivers, and wells may replace the need to store large quantities of water.
What can you do on a daily basis? Cover your cough. Wash your hands regularly woth soap and water for at least 20 seconds to eradicate viruses and bacteria or apply a hand sanitizer with a minimum of 60% alcohol content when soap and water are not available. Stay home if you are sick. Vaccinate yourself against seasonal flu.
Travel: American citizens living in or traveling to countries with human or animal cases of H5N1 virus should consider the potential risks. Keep informed of the latest medical guidance and practical information and plan accordingly. Consult www.travel.state.gov for the latest tips on international travel.
On-Line Resources: Detailed information about suggested preparations, as well as planning checklists, are available on the U.S. government's one-stop web site on pandemic influenza (www.pandemicflu.gov ), also the World Health Organization (www.who.int/en ) and the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) websites.
Comments
Europe, too? Did they say which parts of Europe might be affected?
I might have a trip to Hyeres in line this M-Term with Prof. Chossat. I hope the airlines will be available... that is, at least on the trip to.
Je suis d'accord avec y attendre. Papa, envoyer le liquide! Ca serait un printemps formidable! :)
Posted by: Evan | January 13, 2007 7:31 AM
I am curious how long do you intend to stay in montenegro. I was reading some of your past postings and am enjoying your insight. My husband is from Niksic and we will soon be relocating there. I've previously visited, but I love to hear others opinions. Your blogs are very limited to me for access to read. Do you have a homepage i can look at? Please let me know.
Robynne
Posted by: Robynne | May 13, 2007 7:18 PM