It’s not every day you get an e-mail from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the subject line “CDC Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse.” So when you do, you open it, right?
Turns out the folks over at the CDC’s Public Health Matters Blog have an excellent sense of humor. In their latest post, they explain how to get ready for a zombie attack and other completely possible disasters such as hurricanes and earthquakes.
Blogger Ali S. Khan writes: “The rise of zombies in pop culture has given credence to the idea that a zombie apocalypse could happen. In such a scenario zombies would take over entire countries, roaming city streets eating anything living that got in their way. The proliferation of this idea has led many people to wonder ‘How do I prepare for a zombie apocalypse?’ ”
The CDC’s tips include stocking up on water, food, medication, blankets, and first-aid supplies; purchasing a utility knife, duct tape, and a battery-powered radio; and making sure you have copies of important documents such as your driver’s license, passport, and birth certificate.
And then there’s the good news: “If zombies did start roaming the streets, CDC would conduct an investigation much like any other disease outbreak. CDC would provide technical assistance to cities, states, or international partners dealing with a zombie infestation. This assistance might include consultation, lab testing and analysis, patient management and care, tracking of contacts, and infection control (including isolation and quarantine). It’s likely that an investigation of this scenario would seek to accomplish several goals: determine the cause of the illness, the source of the infection/virus/toxin, learn how it is transmitted and how readily it is spread, how to break the cycle of transmission and thus prevent further cases, and how patients can best be treated. Not only would scientists be working to identify the cause and cure of the zombie outbreak, but CDC and other federal agencies would send medical teams and first responders to help those in affected areas (I will be volunteering the young nameless disease detectives for the field work).”
Phew. Good to know we’re covered.
>> How would you prepare for a zombie attack? Tell us in the comments.
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