The Canadian government has set up a pandemic flu website for it's citizens. Here, our northern neighbors will find a sobering assessment of what can, and cannot, be done during a pandemic.
The information here describes a pandemic where 58,000 Canadians could die. They give no hope for a vaccine, or even an adequate supply of anti-virals to be available.
Health Canada concedes that citizens can't do much to fend off infection except wash their hands. They go on to say that soap, and hand sanitizers may be in short supply. They even state that the use of masks by the general public, would be of little value, once the virus is unleashed into their community.
This advice on masks, however, flies in the face of what other experts have been saying. Many doctors believe that masks are effective in reducing the risk of contracting the disease.
So why the disconnect? Why discourage the use of masks?
Here I can only speculate.
A pandemic could last 18 months, coming in multiple waves that could go on for weeks or months at a time. Masks are considered disposable, and you are lucky to get 8 hours wear out of one. To have enough masks on hand to last for a year and a half, requires a large stockpile.
With 33 Million Canadians, if each person had only 100 masks, that would require the stockpiling of 3 BILLION masks. At a dollar each, that's a pretty heavy pricetag.
Worse, if the public bought up masks in these quantities, there would be precious few available for health care workers, first responders, and essential workers. A mask shortage, already anticipated, would grow far worse.
Here in the US, with 10 times the population, we'd need 30 Billion masks, and that isn't likely to happen either.
In Canada, there may be fear that the government would be expected to supply masks to the public. Or perhaps it is just a fear that the haves and have-nots will come to blows during a pandemic.
I would imagine that the easiest solution is to dispell the idea that masks will help, except for medical personnel dealing with infectious patients. The supply of masks is finite. Those at greatest risk, should have them. The general public should not.
And all of that makes sense. It isn't practical for the entire populace to stockpile masks.
That said, I have a small cache of masks at home. Far less than 100. But enough to allow me to move about in public during a pandemic if the occasion arrives. I think it is simply prudent.
This blog doesn't reach a lot of people. Perhaps 30 or 40 people read it with any regularity. So to those I say, get some masks while they are still available. You won't make a dent in the national supply.
You want, if possible, N95 masks. Surigcal masks are cheaper, but are probably less effective. A contractor's pack of 20 can be had at most large hardware stores for under $20.00.
The Federal government has already stated that they will be unable to help much if a pandemic occurs. They say you have to be willing to help yourselves.
So, as long as masks are still available, I agree with them.
Help yourselves.
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