How to Survive a Flu Pandemic?

It is better to be jittery than unprepared.

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Take positive steps to boost your health and your immune system right now.
The swine flu can wreak havoc on those with compromised immune systems. Eat a healthy diet, drink plenty of water and exercise daily to increase muscle mass and strengthen your cardiac and respiratory systems. Avoid junk food, cigarette smoking and alcoholic drinks, all of which can lower your immunity. Vitamin C. Most mainstream medical professionals will tell you that taking Vitamin C will not prevent swine flu. No one seriously disagrees with that. Homeopathic and alternative medicine types, however, claim that taking massive amounts of Vitamin C may help your immune system combat the flu. Health consultant Jonathan Campbell recommends that you start taking 1000 mgs of Vitamin C immediately, and increasing your dosage from there. Unfortunately, this amount of Vitamin C poses its own health risks, possibly leading to diarrhea and dehydration

Wash hands frequently with antibacterial soap.
Concentrate on keeping the house spotless, especially the kitchen clean. Stock up on antibacterial hand soap and disinfectant sprays. Wash dishes as soon as the meal is over and use plenty of hot soapy water or (preferably) a dishwasher. Dry counter tops and supply paper towels for family members to dry their hands.

Stock extra food
Stock up on essential food items before a flu pandemic keeps you inside your home. Save plastic milk jugs and fill them with fresh water. Purchase additional canned food items, dry beans, flour, sugar and other staple foods and store them in a pantry or under the beds. Don't forget to stock up on pet food.
Avoid crowds.
Shop very early in the morning and bring anti-bacterial towelettes to the grocery store. Wipe off the grocery cart push bar and any place on the cart a baby might touch when sitting in the cart. Avoid using public bathrooms. Do not go anywhere near individuals known to be infected. Avoid places, such as hospitals, where those who believe they are infected are likely to go. Unless necessary, do not travel any place where swine flu has become highly concentrated. You should also consider avoiding sporting events, concerts or any other place where massive amounts of people will gather.

At last, face Masks May Help

• , At First. Those surgical face masks you see people wearing in Mexico will not prevent transmission if you come in close contact with swine flu. The virus is small enough that it easily passes through the mask. If they work at all, they work to prevent the already infected from expelling the virus through their own sneezes. Ironically, people will probably shy away from you if you are an early adoptef of face mask wearing. This extra personal space may help you avoid swine flu. But once masks become widespread, this benefit will no longer apply.
• Anti-Viral Drugs. There are two main anti-viral drugs that may be somewhat effective against swine flu, Tamiflu and Relenza. Tamiflu is a pill, while Relenza is an inhalant. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of these drugs against this strain of flu virus is yet known. Drugs developed specifically for this strain will take several months to come online. There is some danger of a negative reaction to the drugs. Perhaps the biggest problem is that these need to be taken within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, which means that if you plan to take anti-virals you should not try to ride out illness to see if it becomes severe. If you have a fever and want to use anti-virals, seek them immediately.
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• Vaccines. There is no existing vaccine for this strain of swine flu. A vaccine may be available when the second or third wave of swine flu hits this fall and winter. However, previous vaccines against swine flu turned out to be more dangerous than the disease. The 1976 infected 200 people, hospitalising 12 people and killing one. But 40 million people were been vaccinated, resulting in 25 deaths and at least 500 cases of Guillain-Barre syndrome, which can be fatal. Until the risks of a new vaccine are known, you should avoid being vaccinated and refuse any vaccination you are offered.
• Have food and water ready. In any crisis, from a bad storm to a deadly viral outbreak, it is a good idea to have at least a few days of food and water ready. There's no need to panic about the food supply, but you shouldn't be shy about buying some soup. Your water supply probably won't be interuppted but having a couple of gallons of water in a cabinet won't hurt you.