Current Worldwide Bird Flu Death Toll! Number of Diagnosed Cases! Click here for more information The current worldwide death toll from recent bird flu outbreaks is 211 inching daily towards it's target of 6 billion. In the last 15 months the fatalities have escalated by 98. What might scare you more than this figure is that hundreds of thousands of birds have been willing to sacrificed their lives in order to spread this disease. So we ALL must start digging our trusty bunkers and purchasing our extremist survivalist kits and weapons. Never mind the fact you are more likely to die of lung cancer whilst being hurtled across the sky in a tornado, or slipping innocently on a slug in the garden and cracking your skull on a sinister but friendly-looking garden knome, or more likely to die falling in a bear trap which has already proved successful in capturing a lion earlier in the day. No! The birds, much like the Hitchcock movie baring the same title, are out to get us. Don't be fooled by their innocent chicken dance, performed only to dispel the widespread panic, while plans are arranged to carry out hoarde attacks once your back is turned. Butler has predicted it's "not if but when" the bird flu will wipe out most of our species. Are you going to trust your lives to the Jagad Guru, a man who is in direct communication with God, or be one of the offensive crackpots who can't recognise a Paramahamsa when they see one? Take care, be safe and stay away from rural areas! The following message is brought to you by Down to Earth Natural Foods and Lifestyle Centers. downtoearth.org/healthtip/avian_flu.htm Preparing for the Avian Flu By Tracy Rohland Experts say that the avian flu or bird flu could become a pandemic at some time in the near future, affecting people world-wide. There are precautions that each person should take to protect themselves now before the bird flu becomes a grave issue. The Center for Disease Control ( CDC) recommends that “travelers (traveling to other countries) should avoid all contact with poultry (e.g., chickens, ducks, geese, pigeons, turkeys, and quail) or any wild birds, and avoid settings where H5N1-infected poultry may be present, such as commercial or backyard poultry farms and live poultry markets.” “ As with other infectious illnesses, one of the most important preventive practices is careful and frequent hand washing. Clean your hands often, using soap and water (or waterless, alcohol-based hand gels when soap is not available and hands are not visibly soiled) to remove potentially infectious materials from your skin and help prevent disease transmission,” the CDC said. Currently no vaccine is available to protect humans against the H5N1 virus that is being seen in Asia. However, vaccine development efforts are under way. Research studies to test a vaccine to protect humans against H5N1 virus began in April 2005. If the bird flu arrives in the United States, we should make sure we have enough food and water for one month in case people are told to remain in their homes. It is always a good idea to keep a general emergency kit in your house. This should include latex gloves and a respirator mask. The CDC and the World Health Organization (WHO) recommend the ANSI Certified N95 respirator mask which can be ordered online or found at a medical supply store. Natural Remedies and Immune Boosters Ask one of Down to Earth’s knowledgeable staff about natural antiviral products, such as elderberry and olive leaf extract. As always, be sure to keep your immune system in top condition by supplementing with products such as Vitamin C, Echinacea, New Chapter’s Host Defense, and vitamin-mineral supplements. Remember to get the proper amount of sleep and exercise in addition to a vegetarian, whole-food diet, avoiding sugars and processed foods.