Because of the overwhelming response I've had to the following article which I first wrote about back in April of this year(2006), and because of its major importance to all of us, I am re-publishing it here in its entirety. My readership increased twofold after I wrote the following article:

I think most of us by now have heard on various news sites that it's not 'if' but 'when' - Avian Bird Flu, also known as H5N1, will reach this country and the havoc it could bring with the statistics of predicted deaths staggering the mind with it numbering in the millions.

What is of concern to me is that even though we are being warned, I don't think it is being taken seriously enough - even by our government. Oh, by many accounts, the U.S. government is stockpiling whatever vaccines are available, but for the most part, the general public will never benefit from whatever the government now has on hand.

And, by the time Bird Flu reaches the United States, if, in fact, it does -- it will be virtually too late for us to take action at that point - if we haven't already taken precautions. That is why I am writing about it now - so we can be prepared for what they are telling us is fairly inevitable. I believe what the health experts are telling us. They have no reason to deceive us. It's just that with the current 'epidemic' an ocean away, we think we are in a safe harbor, but we are not.

They say when this happens, it will start sweeping the country - in what is called a 'pandemic'. It has been reported that, if what some of the experts are predicting comes to pass, it will kill millions in the United States alone -and the worst part, of course, is that at the present time, we have no cure for it. There is - or are - one or two vaccines, but there is not enough of a supply to go around - it simply has not been made yet, and will not be made in time.

You say - it's only a flu! but, it is a deadly flu that is to be taken very seriously. The only medicinal options we had are now either spoken for or on such a backorder, time would run out before you could even get the order filled. I'm speaking of one in particular, Tamiflu, which they claim, that, if you took it within something like 24 to 36 hours after feeling symptomatic, it would at least help your chances of recovering - surviving - if you did contract it.

I have been reading the warnings on the internet as well. They are saying on WebMD - 'Scientists in Desperate Race with Bird Flu'. According to an article on WebMD, "it's killed 57 of the 112 humans known to have caught it." I have subscribed to the 'ready for crisis' newsletter for tips and advice on how to prepare for this deadly virus. I am hoping you will also do the same, and do your homework now - rather than later.

I am ordering masks that I will store and hope I never have to use them. That will be money that I won't mind wasting, if that should come to pass. I hope you will not wait until the last minute - when the government is telling us that it is here on our shores - to get yourself prepared.

Go to this website for the latest information on bird flu: http://www.pandemicflu.gov.. Remember, forewarned is forearmed. Knowledge is power.

I don't want to be caught between a rock and a hard place should this 'pandemic' come to pass. When it does happen, it will domino very quickly and by the time it's upon us it will be too late to buy anything, as there will then be such a long backorder list, that it's highly unlikely it will ever be filled in time.

As it stands now, it's impossible to order Tamiflu which according to many news sites and internet sites, is one of only maybe three medications used to treat some types of influenza and illness caused by the flu virus (description taken from 'the-pharmacy-a.net')that the government has been ordering and stockpiling (does this mean hoarding?), and one of the only two or three sources that might enable a person who contracts Bird Flu to eventually survive. They would still suffer through the flu, but having taken a product such as Tamiflu, they will very likely not be another statistic, and would probably survive the worst of it.

I'm sorry to sound ominous, but my mission is to give you the knowledge - in this case in a timely manner - so you are able to make an educated decision for yourselves. I'd rather err on the side of caution. I have ordered my masks, and because I waited on this, it is doubtful I can locate any available Tamiflu. But, I'm still trying.

On the CNN station, November 5, it was announced that two (2) more 'human' cases of Bird Flu had been reported in Indonesia, with both of them ending in death. You can visit this site http://www.cnn.com/birdflu. Another very informative website that I discovered recently is: http://www.curevents.com. This site has postings for numerous topics, among them the 'flu' and also an in-depth posting on preparing for a crisis.

They have a category called The Watchtower where you can check on anything that is currently on the 'radar' screen and being watched closely. They also talk about 'Elderberry' which quite a few of the members make themselvs in preparation, and in the event of, Bird Flu reaching our shores.

According to this website, www.medicalnewstoday.com, the Editor of Medical News Today, Christian Nordqvist states - "for a flu pandemic to start, three conditions are needed:

Firstly, a new flu virus subtype for humans must emerge; Secondly, it has to infect humans - it needs to cause serious illness in humans; Thirdly, it must be able to spread easily among humans (rapid human-to-human transmission). Currently, the H5N1 virus strain meets the first two requirements. It is a new subtype for humans and it has infected over 100 humans causing serious illness with a 50% death rate. THERE IS NO HUMAN IMMUNITY FOR A MUTATED H5N1 virus. The third requirement (for a pandemic) has not been met."

To read How the H5N1 virus strain could mutate into a 'pandemic' virus, you can read the remainder of the above-quoted article at the www.medicalnewstoday.com site.

If you have any suggestions or information you would like to share on this subject - please drop me a line at midlife@bellaonline.com. I love hearing from you!

I wanted to add a note here for the benefit of some of my readers who have emailed me saying that they feel basically I am coming across as too strong or inciting people to start panicking after reading my article - of course, that is not my intention whatsoever. However, I do not go along with the notion of waiting to see what pops up day to day -- because, should the day come, by then preparing for a possible pandemic will be for the most part, fruitless. After all, the prefix 'pre' means 'before' - as in the word 'prepare'.

Isn't it better to be safe - than sorry?

Stay informed - Stay Well!