The director of the Centers for Disease Control says people are concerned about their health, but don’t know about the relationship between their lifestyle and the ability to live a healthy life. Doctor Julie Gerberding says part of their challenge is to give people accurate information on the most important things to do to protect their health, from promoting a good lifestyle to preparing for emergencies.
Gerberding says the information age brings in all kinds of claims about healthy living. Gerberding says we’re living in a "boutique" of information on health, but the best source of info is your local health department or healthcare provider. Preparation for emergencies is a part of protecting your health.
Gerberding says we may or may not have a pandemic soon, but sooner or later every household will face some kind of natural disaster. She says you should think ahead with an emergency plan for such situations. Gerberding says Iowa could see a pandemic because of the amount of livestock in the state.
Gerberding says other countries that are experiencing problems are seeing animal handlers as the rural areas as the hardest hit. She says animal handlers could very well be at the start of a pandemic in the U.S., but Gerberding says it could also very well be spread in human-to-human contact by travelers. Gerberding made her comments this week at the governor’s Barn Raising symposium on public health.
Iowa’s Emergency Management Division has a way to help you plan for disasters at: www.bereadyiowa.org .