Points to Consider During a Pandemic
1. Successive ‘waves’ of the flu, each lasting 2-3 months will impact the United
States, and will occur over a long period of time.
2. People usually transmit the flu 1 to 2 days prior to showing any symptoms
and usually transmit to at least two other people.
3. Children usually have the longest viral shedding period, and are the least
likely to contain their secretions; therefore, have the most significant role in
transmitting illness.
4. Some people are carriers of the flu, but have no symptoms.
5. Susceptibility to the flu virus will be universal. Infants, the elderly, pregnant
women and those with immune compromised systems will be the most
seriously affected.
In summary, States should be prepared to keep children out of school for three months, businesses should be prepared to operate with skeleton workforces, children should be prepared to play mostly with their siblings, and parents should be prepared to lose income as they skip work and cobble together rickety child-care arrangements.
Without a vaccine, this will be a difficult and onerous time.
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