Prepare for and Survive a Pandemic/Biological Warfare

The document discusses the nature of viruses, their impact on human health, and the likelihood of future pandemics and biological warfare. It emphasizes preventive measures against infections, particularly during a pandemic scenario, and the historical context of deadly diseases. Additionally, it includes information on biological weapons and the importance of preparation and awareness in dealing with potential pandemics.

1. Prepare for and Survive Pandemics and Biological Warfare

2. What are viruses? Tiny organisms, 100 times smaller than a single bacteria cell. They are an infective agent that typically consist of a nucleic acid molecule in a protein coat that is able to multiply only within the living cells of a host. Thus, by itself, the virus is not alive. It needs a host. Deadly Viruses

3. When a virus infects a host, it invades the cells and take them over in order to carry out its own life process of multiplication and growth. An infected cell produces viral particles instead of doing its normal functions. Deadly Viruses

4. Deadly Viruses

5. Have half of all human deaths in history been caused by malaria? No one quite knows. Roughly 110 billion humans have lived in the past 52,000 years. Death rates from malaria were much higher in the past, but it still kills close to one million a year. Malaria

6. Plague is caused by bacteria. Plague

7. The Black Death killed between 75 to 200 million people in the years 1346-1353. Plague

8. A pandemic is an epidemic of infectious disease that spreads across a large region; usually multiple continents. Pandemic

9. Experts believe the odds of a worse pandemic than COVID-19 within the next fifty years are very high. Estimates are that: 1 billion people would get sick. 165 million will die There will be a global recession and depression Pandemic

10. Why are the odds of a pandemic high? Global population has increased dramatically. People are moving to crowded, central locations: cities. World-wide travel is much faster and more common. Pandemic

11. Infectious Diseases I’ve used infectious diseases as central to the plot in several of my books. I first became interested in this after reading The Hot Zone back in 1995. The book is still well worth reading.

12. Infectious Diseases This topic has been central to the books below:

13. Prepare for and Survive Biological Warfare

14. There are three types of weapons of mass destruction: Nuclear, Biological and Chemical. Most of us are unaware of biological weapons.

15. Biological warfare is the use of infectious agents or toxins to incapacitate or kill humans, plants or animals. Bioterrorism is the same, except not state-sponsored. Biological Warfare

16. As long as there has been warfare, humans have used biological warfare in various forms. Biological Warfare

17. The problem with biological weapons has always been that they are indiscriminate. They kill the side employing them as effectively as the side they are used against. Biological Warfare

18. What is on the horizon, and probably already developed in secret, are genetic weapons, which are targeted toward specific ethnicities and/or genotypes. The implications of such weapons are staggering. I explored this in the book to the right. Genetic Weapons

19. Consider how the USS Roosevelt was made combat ineffective by one infected sailor. Imagine deliberate infections of crew members while on shore leave— an inexpensive way to negate a multi-billion dollar, powerful weapon

20. What To Do? Depending on where you live and how much you travel will determine your chances of getting infected. If you live in an urban setting, the chances are higher. Biological Warfare/Pandemic

21. What To Do? Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw it away after use. Use a mask if you become aware that people are getting sick. Biological Warfare/Pandemic

22. What To Do? Wash your hands with soap and water. Use disinfection. One curious fact brought up in Contagion was the number of times we touch our faces with our hands. Biological Warfare/Pandemic

23. What To Do? A mask is essential if you must go out. Since COVID-19 most people accept this. However make sure you have the right mask. An N-95 is essential. Biological Warfare/Pandemic

24. Get a supply of N-95 masks now while they are readily available. Stock up. Wear them. Biological Warfare/Pandemic

25. What To Do? Stay away from the sick people. That sounds easy, but what if you’re a first responder or a health care provider? Stay away from crowds. Biological Warfare/Pandemic

26. What To Do? If it’s a true pandemic, it’s not likely that a hospital is a place to go as it will quickly become overwhelmed with the sick and dying. While COVID-19 has been bad, most experts agree we haven’t seen the “big one” yet. The bottom line is to stay aware and isolate yourself and your team as quickly as possible. Biological Warfare/Pandemic

27. What To Do? If there is a vaccination; get it. Consider the blowback against masking and vaccinations. Consider what will happen if a deadlier pandemic occurs? The results will be magnified by the ignorant. Look out for yourself! Biological Warfare/Pandemic

28. I recommend stockpiling enough food and having a water source so that you can isolate for at least a month, if not longer, to survive the initial wave of a particularly nasty pandemic with a mortality rate higher than 5%. At that rate, society will break down, at least for the short term. Stay away from people and ride it out. Beyond that, there are many variables for long-term survival. Biological Warfare/Pandemic

29. More Free Information I’ve put all the links to free apps, all gear mentioned and web pages on my web site at www.bobmayer.com Go to the GEAR page There are also free books on my web site, updated daily.

30. New York Times bestselling author, a graduate of West Point and former Green Beret. He commanded a Green Beret A-Team and also served in a variety of other positions. He was a certified instructor at the JFK Special Warfare Center & School which trains Green Berets and also runs the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape (SERE) school. www.bobmayer.com