Swine Flu Advisory!

Important message from CEN (Christian Emergency Network) regarding the Swine Fly Advisory (some highlights are mine):

(Phoenix, AZ – From Mary Marr, Founder/Chairman of CEN) Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a declaration of emergency “preparedness” resulting from findings of the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC) documenting incidents of swine flu in California, Kansas, New York, Ohio and Texas. In cooperation with the World Health Organization (WHO), outbreaks have now been documented to have originated in Mexico and have spread to at least three other countries already.

Is this the pandemic the CDC has been cautioning CEN about for several years? What should Christians do? Be Aware, Be Ready and Be There in any emergency by praying earnestly, caring compassionately, and sharing the Hope of Christ effectively and appropriately. It is what the church has always done best and should be doing now!

Christians should be aware of accurate information regarding this outbreak and watch news reports carefully on the scope and rapidness of its spreading. If Christians are ready themselves, they are not a part of the burden that emergency management may face. Help your family, church and community to bring calm even now as the scope is uncertain, and then model and encourage quick response to any emergency directions.

Christians should be ready in their local communities to respond well together as they are called upon to bring calm to their community, and to assist their own families, church and emergency management as needed. . .

Christians should be sharing with anyone God places in our path that being ready is more than physical readiness. We never know the day or the hour of any crisis. For the Christian this means we are spiritually, emotionally, mentally and not just physically ready ourselves, and then also ready to help others. Whether this outbreak is the beginning of a more serious pandemic or not, Christians are called to give an answer for the Hope within.

Ninety percent (90%) of those in any emergency will ask, “Where is God in this?” Christians need to respond to the spiritual, emotional, mental as well as the usual physical needs of those affected. . .

About Swine Flu
Swine Influenza (swine flu) is a respiratory disease of pigs caused by type A influenza that regularly cause outbreaks of influenza among pigs. Swine flu viruses do not normally infect humans, however, human infections with swine flu do occur, and cases of human-to-human spread of swine flu viruses have been documented.

From December 2005 through February 2009, a total of 12 human infections with swine influenza were reported from 10 states in the United States. Since March 2009, a number of confirmed human cases of a new strain of swine influenza A (H1N1) virus infection in the U.S. and internationally have been identified. An investigation into these cases is ongoing. For more information on swine flu and how to respond visit www.cdc.gov.

Swine flu viruses can be directly transmitted from pigs to people and from people to pigs. Human infection with flu viruses from pigs are most likely to occur when people are in close proximity to infected pigs, such as in pig barns and livestock exhibits housing pigs at fairs. Human-to-human transmission of swine flue can also occur through coughing, sneezing, and touching something with the flu virus on it and then touching their mouth or nose. Precautions such as frequent hand washing and early medical responses to signs of fever, coughing, vomiting and dehydration and other flu-like symptoms should be taken.

God bless,
Mick Dobra

Go! And make disciples.
Go! And feed the hungry.
Go! And shelter the displaced.
Go! And heal the sick and injured.
Go! And clothe the naked.
Go! And share Christ's hope with the hopeless!