Stockpile supplies for two weeks – swine-flu
A federal government pandemic plan suggests Australians should be stockpiling enough supplies to last two weeks, on the back of an increase in the swine flu alert level.
The World Health Organisation raised its flu alert level on Wednesday to phase five out of six, signalling a pandemic is imminent.
Under a federal government pandemic plan, a phase five alert level is the trigger for Australians to stock up on enough food, water, household supplies and basic medicines to stay in their homes for 14 days.
But Fairfax reports the federal government is ignoring its own plan, fearing panic buying.
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Ageing has called for calm, saying while its own manual may say people should be preparing, but they don’t want a run at the shops.
The swine flu has killed people in Mexico and the United States, and infected people in another 10 countries, but so far, no Australians have been confirmed with the virus.
Swine flu: Aussies should stockpile supplies for two weeks – swine-flu – LIVENEWS.com.au
