(End of the American Dream)—This has been quite a decade for global pestilences. The first one to hit was COVID, and that created a wave of panic that literally paralyzed the entire globe. The next one to hit was the bird flu. More than 100 million birds are dead, and now mammals all over the planet are getting infected. There is a lot of concern that humans could be next, and we will be watching future developments very closely. Two years ago, Mpox exploded on to the scene, and it rapidly circulated around the world. Now a much deadlier new version has emerged in Africa, and global health authorities are quite alarmed about this. On top of everything else, this year we are dealing with the worst outbreak of dengue fever that we have ever witnessed. Millions have already been infected, and there have even been hundreds of cases here in the United States.
With everything else that has been going on, I didn’t expect to be talking about bubonic plague.
In the 14th century, bubonic plague killed somewhere between 30 to 50 percent of the population in some parts of Europe.
Overall, it has been estimated that approximately 50 million people were wiped out. So this is a disease that we definitely don’t want to see make a major comeback. Unfortunately, it keeps popping up in various parts of the western United States.
On Monday, health officials in Colorado announced that there is a confirmed case of bubonic plague in Pueblo County…
A person in Pueblo County, Colorado, about 100 miles south of Denver, has been infected with bubonic plague, local health officials said Monday.
Last week, state and local officials identified the case based on preliminary test results. Trysten Garcia, a spokesperson for the Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment, said in an email Tuesday morning it was bubonic plague. Earlier announcements had been more general, stating it was “plague.” The infection was initially reported on Friday. The department said the person was hospitalized for bubonic plague but their condition improved. Because plague is endemic locally, it’s hard to pinpoint the source of infection, Garcia said.
Hopefully they identified that case in time.
Back in March, one man that was not diagnosed soon enough ended up dying…
A New Mexico man has died after contracting the bubonic plague, the state’s health department said in a news release last Friday.
It is the first human case of plague in New Mexico since 2021 and the first death since 2020, according to the New Mexico Department of Health.
The man’s name was not released to the media, but the department of health says the man resided in Lincoln County and that NMDOH staff is conducting outreach to area residents.
A month before that, there was a confirmed case in Oregon, and authorities are telling us that the victim was “likely infected by their pet cat” in that case…
Health officials announced this week that a resident of Deschutes County — a rural part of Oregon — was diagnosed with plague, marking the state’s first human case in more than eight years. The person was likely infected by their pet cat, who had developed symptoms, according to Deschutes County Health Services.
One of the reasons why this disease is so difficult to eliminate is because it spreads among animals, and cats and dogs that get infected can carry it home to their owners…
Usually, people get the plague after being bitten by a rodent flea carrying Yersinia pestis, the bacterium that causes the disease, or by handling an infected animal, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Cats, which become sick themselves, can directly infect humans, while hardier dogs may simply carry the fleas back to their owners. People also can become sick by inhaling droplets from the cough of an infected person or animal.
Hopefully the bubonic plague will not become a major problem any time soon.
Because if it does, that would not be good at all.
According to the WHO, bubonic plague has a very high death rate…
The WHO estimates that 30% to 60% of people die of bubonic plague. Pneumonic plague is fatal when left untreated.
There is no vaccine for plague in the U.S., the CDC said. People who develop symptoms of plague should immediately see a health provider.
Personally, I think that dengue fever (also known as bone-break fever) is much more of a threat.
This is a disease that causes horrifying pain, and lots of people in this country have already been infected this year.
For example, the CDC has announced that there have been 41 confirmed cases in New Jersey in 2024…
The CDC has issued an urgent dengue fever warning after 41 travelers in New Jersey were sickened with the mosquito-transmitted virus.
Cases of dengue are currently at an all-time high across North, Central, and South America, the CDC said.
The 41 New Jersey residents were infected while traveling as of July 2, the CDC said.
And in Florida, there have already been more than 200 confirmed cases so far this year…
Meanwhile, Florida has seen 210 total cases of dengue fever this year, seven of which are reported to be locally transmitted. Most of those cases were reported in Miami-Dade County.
Of course those that live closer to the equator are in much greater danger.
We are seeing numbers in Central and South America that we have never seen before.
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In fact, so far in 2024 there have been almost 10 million cases in our half of the world…
In the first half of 2024, more than 9.7 million cases have been reported across North, Central, and South America, according to the CDC. US travelers accounted for more than 750 of those cases.
There is no magic pill that you can take to make dengue fever go away.
If you get a really bad case, you are going to go through a tremendous amount of pain.
So if you live in a high risk area, please be careful.
Before I end this article, I wanted to give an update on another disease that often causes excruciating pain.
So far this year, a deadly new strain of Mpox that apparently spreads much more easily among humans has already caused more than 400 deaths in Africa…
According to Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention data, about 8,479 cases and 401 deaths from Mpox have been recorded since January 2024. Out of these, 97 per cent of the cases were reported in DRC, now considered a hotspot.
Meanwhile, the other strain of Mpox that caused so much chaos in 2022 continues to circulate in countries all over the planet.
It has never gone away.
In fact, none of the major diseases that have erupted in recent years have gone away.
They are all still with us.
We live at a time when our world is being ravaged by pestilences, but the truth is that what we have experienced so far is just the tip of the iceberg.
I am entirely convinced that global pestilences will be one of the major themes of the next few years.
We are far more vulnerable than most people realize, and the next great pandemic could literally strike at any moment.
Michael’s new book entitled “Chaos” is available in paperback and for the Kindle on Amazon.com, and you can subscribe to his Substack newsletter at michaeltsnyder.substack.com.
Five Things New “Preppers” Forget When Getting Ready for Bad Times Ahead
The preparedness community is growing faster than it has in decades. Even during peak times such as Y2K, the economic downturn of 2008, and Covid, the vast majority of Americans made sure they had plenty of toilet paper but didn’t really stockpile anything else.
Things have changed. There’s a growing anxiety in this presidential election year that has prompted more Americans to get prepared for crazy events in the future. Some of it is being driven by fearmongers, but there are valid concerns with the economy, food supply, pharmaceuticals, the energy grid, and mass rioting that have pushed average Americans into “prepper” mode.
There are degrees of preparedness. One does not have to be a full-blown “doomsday prepper” living off-grid in a secure Montana bunker in order to be ahead of the curve. In many ways, preparedness isn’t about being able to perfectly handle every conceivable situation. It’s about being less dependent on government for as long as possible. Those who have proper “preps” will not be waiting for FEMA to distribute emergency supplies to the desperate masses.
Below are five things people new to preparedness (and sometimes even those with experience) often forget as they get ready. All five are common sense notions that do not rely on doomsday in order to be useful. It may be nice to own a tank during the apocalypse but there’s not much you can do with it until things get really crazy. The recommendations below can have places in the lives of average Americans whether doomsday comes or not.
Note: The information provided by this publication or any related communications is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial advice. We do not provide personalized investment, financial, or legal advice.
Secured Wealth
Whether in the bank or held in a retirement account, most Americans feel that their life’s savings is relatively secure. At least they did until the last couple of years when de-banking, geopolitical turmoil, and the threat of Central Bank Digital Currencies reared their ugly heads.
It behooves Americans to diversify their holdings. If there’s a triggering event or series of events that cripple the financial systems or devalue the U.S. Dollar, wealth can evaporate quickly. To hedge against potential turmoil, many Americans are looking in two directions: Crypto and physical precious metals.
There are huge advantages to cryptocurrencies, but there are also inherent risks because “virtual” money can become challenging to spend. Add in the push by central banks and governments to regulate or even replace cryptocurrencies with their own versions they control and the risks amplify. There’s nothing wrong with cryptocurrencies today but things can change rapidly.
As for physical precious metals, many Americans pay cash to keep plenty on hand in their safe. Rolling over or transferring retirement accounts into self-directed IRAs is also a popular option, but there are caveats. It can often take weeks or even months to get the gold and silver shipped if the owner chooses to close their account. This is why Genesis Gold Group stands out. Their relationship with the depositories allows for rapid closure and shipping, often in less than 10 days from the time the account holder makes their move. This can come in handy if things appear to be heading south.
Lots of Potable Water
One of the biggest shocks that hit new preppers is understanding how much potable water they need in order to survive. Experts claim one gallon of water per person per day is necessary. Even the most conservative estimates put it at over half-a-gallon. That means that for a family of four, they’ll need around 120 gallons of water to survive for a month if the taps turn off and the stores empty out.
Being near a fresh water source, whether it’s a river, lake, or well, is a best practice among experienced preppers. It’s necessary to have a water filter as well, even if the taps are still working. Many refuse to drink tap water even when there is no emergency. Berkey was our previous favorite but they’re under attack from regulators so the Alexapure systems are solid replacements.
For those in the city or away from fresh water sources, storage is the best option. This can be challenging because proper water storage containers take up a lot of room and are difficult to move if the need arises. For “bug in” situations, having a larger container that stores hundreds or even thousands of gallons is better than stacking 1-5 gallon containers. Unfortunately, they won’t be easily transportable and they can cost a lot to install.
Water is critical. If chaos erupts and water infrastructure is compromised, having a large backup supply can be lifesaving.
Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies
There are multiple threats specific to the medical supply chain. With Chinese and Indian imports accounting for over 90% of pharmaceutical ingredients in the United States, deteriorating relations could make it impossible to get the medicines and antibiotics many of us need.
Stocking up many prescription medications can be hard. Doctors generally do not like to prescribe large batches of drugs even if they are shelf-stable for extended periods of time. It is a best practice to ask your doctor if they can prescribe a larger amount. Today, some are sympathetic to concerns about pharmacies running out or becoming inaccessible. Tell them your concerns. It’s worth a shot. The worst they can do is say no.
If your doctor is unwilling to help you stock up on medicines, then Jase Medical is a good alternative. Through telehealth, they can prescribe daily meds or antibiotics that are shipped to your door. As proponents of medical freedom, they empathize with those who want to have enough medical supplies on hand in case things go wrong.
Energy Sources
The vast majority of Americans are locked into the grid. This has proven to be a massive liability when the grid goes down. Unfortunately, there are no inexpensive remedies.
Those living off-grid had to either spend a lot of money or effort (or both) to get their alternative energy sources like solar set up. For those who do not want to go so far, it’s still a best practice to have backup power sources. Diesel generators and portable solar panels are the two most popular, and while they’re not inexpensive they are not out of reach of most Americans who are concerned about being without power for extended periods of time.
Natural gas is another necessity for many, but that’s far more challenging to replace. Having alternatives for heating and cooking that can be powered if gas and electric grids go down is important. Have a backup for items that require power such as manual can openers. If you’re stuck eating canned foods for a while and all you have is an electric opener, you’ll have problems.
Don’t Forget the Protein
When most think about “prepping,” they think about their food supply. More Americans are turning to gardening and homesteading as ways to produce their own food. Others are working with local farmers and ranchers to purchase directly from the sources. This is a good idea whether doomsday comes or not, but it’s particularly important if the food supply chain is broken.
Most grocery stores have about one to two weeks worth of food, as do most American households. Grocers rely heavily on truckers to receive their ongoing shipments. In a crisis, the current process can fail. It behooves Americans for multiple reasons to localize their food purchases as much as possible.
Long-term storage is another popular option. Canned foods, MREs, and freeze dried meals are selling out quickly even as prices rise. But one component that is conspicuously absent in shelf-stable food is high-quality protein. Most survival food companies offer low quality “protein buckets” or cans of meat, but they are often barely edible.
Prepper All-Naturals offers premium cuts of steak that have been cooked sous vide and freeze dried to give them a 25-year shelf life. They offer Ribeye, NY Strip, and Tenderloin among others.
Having buckets of beans and rice is a good start, but keeping a solid supply of high-quality protein isn’t just healthier. It can help a family maintain normalcy through crises.
Prepare Without Fear
With all the challenges we face as Americans today, it can be emotionally draining. Citizens are scared and there’s nothing irrational about their concerns. Being prepared and making lifestyle changes to secure necessities can go a long way toward overcoming the fears that plague us. We should hope and pray for the best but prepare for the worst. And if the worst does come, then knowing we did what we could to be ready for it will help us face those challenges with confidence.
