What is the Status of the Bird Flu?

The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies pandemic periods in terms of levels or phases. Currently, we are at Phase 3, Pandemic Alert, meaning that the potential for a pandemic is pending, but currently with limited human-to-human transmission. Phase 4 conditions would indicate that multiple clusters of people are becoming ill, and health authorities worldwide will exercise even greater measures to isolate such outbreaks.

Phases 1 and 2 are reserved for the so-called “pre-pandemic period.” But, in 2005, the WHO raised the level and has recently contemplated moving it to Phase 4 given the sporadic and still frequent outbreaks in Indonesia, China, and elsewhere.

The A:H5N1 virus (for now, simply called the Bird Flu or Avian Flu) appears to be sufficiently “endemic” to people, for the first time, now, that the WHO will keep the Phase 3 status until conditions worsen, rather than revert back to a lower phase signaling that this virus threat has abated.

Should the phase status be raised, it will become even more important to have prepared for your food, water, and medical needs early on.

It must be stressed that such a human-to-human virus can suddenly appear and spread rapidly worldwide shortening your opportunity to adequately supply your family and yourself with the provisions outlined in the following sections.