Experts' households well prepared

Baked beans and paracetamol are being stockpiled, gardens are being planted and the hunt is on for a decent face mask. The experts spoke to YVONNE MARTIN from the Press about their pandemic plans.

Christchurch microbiologist Ben Harris is accumulating food, water, masks and Tamiflu, but trusting regular hand washing over gloves.

Nurse and mother Carmel has food and Panadol in store, and a bigger garden than usual. However, she has stopped short of Tamiflu and is yet to source masks for her family of five.

Not too surprisingly, Community and Public Health nutritionist Bronwen King has the best-stocked pantry and could happily spend several months holed up without running low of gourmet foods. With her own stores fully prepared, King turned her energies into writing a food survival guide so that others can face a stretch in quarantine with similar confidence.

The Press asked King to write a grocery list for readers so that they can check their own preparations (see the sample shopping list in this section). "I am particularly concerned at how little attention is given to food planning for a flu pandemic or other natural disaster," said King.

"Civil Defence and other guidelines tell us to stock up with canned, non-perishable foods, but give little advice about what or how much. Eating baked beans may be fine for a short time, but if we are to stay quarantined at home for two to six weeks, more variety is needed for health and mental well-being."

But if all measures fail and the influenza hits, Dr Jeff Shortt gives his tips for survival, based on his frontline experience as a young GP in England during a 1978 epidemic of Russian flu (see keeping healthy).

For more information on pandemic planning go to the Ministry of Health website.

Courtesy of The Press