There is no vaccine available. And there won't be for months. Probably six-to-twelve months. Maybe longer. Clinical trials take time. Usually a year. Then once it's available, vaccine must be distributed worldwide. A logistical nightmare.

So what can you do to protect yourself and your family?

Three steps. And they should be done now, while winds of pandemic are blowing in Southeast Asia.

1. Buy a supply of oseltamivir, only antiviral available that seems to reduce impact of virus. It doesn't kill it, but it does give your body time to build immunity.

2. Buy only filter mask that will block H5N1 and kill it dead -- no that mask is not N95 series. You'd be wasting your money on a N95. Nanomask is one I strongly recommend.

3. Buy a supply of immunolin, only blood protein on market that will strengthen your immune system against horrific challenges like H5N1.

You can wait for your government to come up with a solution to protect you, or you can become proactive. My family has already taken three steps outlined above, I hope you will too.

Mr. Hart is the author of "H5N1 VIRUS: It's Coming, Are You Ready?" and is a member of the National Association of Science Writers (NASW). He hosts a blog titled "Pathogen Alert" that monitors H5N1 developments worldwide: http://www.urgentebooks.com/blog, where he can be reached.

3. Move your carbohydrate intake away from foods that spike a high insulin response in body to foods that offer more quality fuel for long-lasting energy. To simplify, try to limit your intake of processed carbs like breads, pastas, refined sugar products, etc.; instead, eat more unprocessed carbs like fruits and vegetables. If it comes in a box (crackers, cereal, pasta, cookies), forget it or at least only eat it in moderation. In fact, if there's one thing you can do that will have a significant, positive, and lasting effect on your health and bodyfat percentages, it's shifting your carbohydrate intake away from processed foods and towards natural fruits and vegetables.

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