Apocalypse Pandemic

The black plague was an Apocalypse pandemic which killed one-half to one-third the population in Europe and that was before people packed into airplanes and traveled easily around the world. In 1918, a flu epidemic struck a third of the population of the world, and killed anywhere to 20 to 50 million people. Today, we face man made as well as natural health threats from viral and bacterial sources.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) categorizes bioterrorism agents into categories with Category A being those organisms that;

• Quickly infect the population
  
• Cause panic and disruption of normal society
  
• Results in high fatalities
  
• Has a major public health impact
  
• Need special measures for the public to be prepared for them
  

Viruses

Viruses are organisms that can only live inside of other cells, they can remain inactive and dormant until a host cell appears. Viruses infect the human body by passing through the air, through body fluids or from dried fluids on surfaces.

Intentionally or accidentally, an infected person coughing and sneezing in an enclosed area, has the potential of infecting anyone in that area, who in turn affect the people with whom they come into contact. Spraying virus filled water droplets at an international conference for example could cause hundreds of people to become ill.

The Category A viruses that the CDC monitors as they could cause an Apocalypse pandemic are:

• Viral hemorrhagic fevers are a group of different viruses that typically attack the vascular system, although some cause minor ailments, a number cause fatal illness.
  
  
• Small pox is a virus that was eradicated but security forces around the world are concerned that terrorists may obtain the virus and spread it. Most often it takes continuous face-to-face contact with an infected person, contact with objects that the infected person has touched or contact with the fluid that fills the blisters from the small pox or other bodily fluids. It is not believed to be contagious during its seven to 17 day incubation period.
  

Bacteria

Bacteria are microorganisms that are neither plant nor animal that can cause serious diseases and illnesses for living creatures and the Category A bacteria of the CDC that could cause an Apocalypse pandemic include:

• Botulism generally occurs from improperly home canned foods but it is possible to create an air borne variety.
  
  
• Plague occurs naturally from fleas on rodents but it, too, can spread through the air.
  
  
• Anthrax can occur from eating an animal with anthrax, from contact with an animal with an open cut or sore on your skin, or the most dangerous form when the spores are inhaled.
  
  
• Tularemia occurs when human mucous membranes have contact with an infected animal, eating improperly cooked meat from an infected animal or as an airborne dust.
  

Naturally Occurring Viruses

Currently, the CDC monitors the H7N9 flu strain or avian flu, which has infected humans who have handled diseased poultry. The Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus or MERS-CoV and the H7N9 do not have vaccines for prevention and cases of infection have occurred only in the Middle East and China.

The strategy of a terrorist would be to spread a virus or bacteria that remains dormant as it passes from one person to another. As people travel, work and shop, they carry and spread the disease, which eventually attacks the body and causes serious illness. An Apocalypse pandemic is a very real possibility, which is why the CDC monitors all reports of contagious disease outbreaks throughout the world.

Any Apocalypse pandemic could result from either a random outbreak or a terrorist attack and the important thing is that you work towards prevention of infection and then, to have a plan in the event an outbreak occurs.

Prevention includes avoiding crowded environments, frequent hand washing and keeping your hands away from your face. If and when a pandemic occurs, either have means to isolate you and your family from other people or relocate to a remote place, (ie: your survival shelter), to avoid contact with others.

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