You can hardly watch the news or read the paper without running into news or speculation about the bird flu crossing over the line and becoming a human epidemic. Presently we can only catch it from infected birds, and affected countries are killing poultry as soon as they find outbreaks. It's so serious that even Bush is taking notice and reading up on pandemics like the Spanish Flu of 1918. I guess unlike global warming he realizes this could kill his family now.

The government is working on a plan to handle the epidemic and warning that millions of citizens would be in danger if it strikes here. Reportedly, hospitals will be overwhelmed and in some areas people may be stuck in their homes to avoid contagion. The flu virus from 1918 has been re-created in order to work on a vaccine for the very similar bird flu, expected to mutate at any time into a human-to-human version. If it happened this year, we would not be ready with enough vaccine, appropriate masks for health care workers, or other needed supplies. It's really a race against time and nature, and countries are coming together to work out a way to limit the spread of this dangerous flu.

Living in an earthquake zone I know it's always prudent to stock up on non-perishable food and water, but it seems that around the country people should have a bit of extra food and water on hand. If we're stuck in our homes for some period of time we'll need food on hand. If you're planning on stocking up, think about other things you might need if you can't leave home for a while. Books? Baby diapers? Toilet paper? Extra money in savings to cover expenses if you're not at work?

With all the grim news lately I'm expecting that plague of locusts to arrive any time now.