Swine Flu ? Pandemic Fear Arrives, Again

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!COMPLACENCY�
Colin Powell once said ? ?if it ain?t broke, don?t fix it? is the slogan of the complacent,�the arrogant or the scared. It?s an excuse for inaction, a call to non-arms.?�
As recently as 15 Mar 2009, complacent ?myth-busters? were still given prime press coverage (see our post on Ionic Air Purifier & The Bird Flu Myth�).� Even now, as the WHO raises the pandemic alert to Phase 5, there are still detractors who are arguing that this is all a great conspiracy by capitalists to profit themselves.�
It is a good thing that there are influential people who do not believe in complacency, and who are willing to stand up against skepticism, indifference and ignorance.�
Take the almost prophetic warning from Professor Ray Anderson from the Imperial College London. In a press report on 18 April 2009, headlined ?The next one will strike suddenly?, he warned that ??the next major mortality-inducing infectious agent will be a surprise. Rather like the HIV virus and SARS, it will come out of nowhere.?�
Asia has been on the microscope for a long time, but it is emerging from Mexico, officially only on 25 April 2009. And instead of bird flu virus H5N1, it is some new virus strain named A(H1N1)!
TAKE SOME PRECAUTIONS�
Common sense dictates that we make some preparations as we do not know if this will blow away next week or become Prof Anderson?s ?next one?.� The old maxim of being prepared is half the battle won is making sense again.�
Don?t panic so you can think clearly. Just take some common sense precautions.�
PROFITEERING, NOT PROFIT�
To the sneering skeptics, profit-making is not the problem. Without profit, very little motivates any man. What we want to guard against is profiteering.�
Even as I do my best to be prepared and help my readers be prepared, I am still a victim of profiteering. Just this week, whilst sourcing for the N95 respirator for a family member who cannot avoid visiting the hospital 3 times a week, I had no choice but to give in to profiteering. Within an hour, even as I hesitated, the price had jumped 10%. Same product, same supplier, mind you!�
For your information, I bought the Kimberly-Clark Fluidshield PFR95 N95 Particulate Filter Respirator and Surgical Mask (Product code 46767). This mask is approved by�The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
Having experienced how suffocating the 3M N95 respirator (approved by the US FDA) can be during the 2003 SARS, I am opting for the Kimberly Clark�as my source is a dentist who uses this on a regular basis for the reason that its ?breathable? when you need to wear it for long periods of time.�
WHERE TO BUY�
If you have your own local sources, why not buy some respirators to stock up before you become a victim of profiteering like me.
Read on if you still want to know what to buy.�
Kimberly-Clark�

There is an Amazon link�showing an image�of the�Kimberly Clark (Product Code 46767).�
Kimberly-Clark N95 Particulate Filter Respirators; Bacterial Filtration: 95% at 0.3 micron; Regular
It looks like this image from Kimberly Clark?s website. My concern is its almost the same price (exchange rate of 1.5!) as what I agreed to pay but in US$. Another concern is that the Product Code 46767 is not shown.��Instead, a Part number 189991445 is indicated. My supplier is unable to confirm for me that the Product Code 189991445 and Product Code 46767 are identical products.
A Kimberly Clark alternative�

Apart from the above respirator, the Kimberly Clark PFR95 N95 Respirator (Product Code 62126) is also approved by NIOSH.�
For a box of 50, its selling at US$39.99.� I tried to buy 4 boxes but found that they do not ship to my country. Shucks! So, if you want, hit this link before their stock disappears.
�
3M
For those who prefer the�3M N95 respirator(approved by NIOSH), please note that 3M itself recommends only the�Product Codes 8612F and 8670F.
3M 8612F

3M 8670F

We are currently unable to find these exact product codes at Amazon.com. But North Americans can probably find a local dealer via the 3M site.�
Disclaimer by manufacturer�
Please be aware that the respirator, whilst preferred over the regular surgical masks, does not provide 100% protection. It is the best that the manufacturers can offer currently. 3M provides an excellent FAQ.�
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