Tuesday, April 28, 2009 | 2:09 a.m.
The new strain of swine flu that is causing alarm in Mexico and prompting rising concern in the United States and other countries shows the value of preparedness.
It takes months to develop vaccines for new strains of flu, so there are no shots yet available to guard against the outbreak spreading from Mexico. Nevertheless, the federal government has been stockpiling medicine proven to be effective even against flus never before seen.
Although only 20 cases of this new swine flu had been confirmed in the United States, federal officials on Sunday declared a public health emergency.
That triggered a release of 3 million doses of medicine from the nation’s supply of 50 million doses, and allowed the Defense Department to begin preparing to treat its civilian and military employees if necessary.
The declaration also authorized funding to buy more medicine if the flu here begins a rapid spread, and even the use of as-yet-unapproved drugs for children if they appear more susceptible to the flu.
Although the flu in Mexico now appears much more severe and infectious there than anywhere else, it is reassuring to know that national preparations are in place if that changes.
Which it could — since Sunday, many more cases of swine flu have been confirmed in this country, including in nearby Southern California. Cases have also been confirmed in Canada and several European countries.
It is important during any health scare to remember that government preparations and precautions are not enough. There is a lot that individuals can do to halt the spread of viruses.
Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say it is important that people with flu symptoms stay home. And everyone, they say, should cough or sneeze into tissues, keep their fingers away from their mouths as much as possible, frequently wash their hands with soap or waterless sanitizer and avoid all nonessential travel to Mexico.
Although there is no reason to panic, there is every reason now to take that advice seriously.
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