An Eerily Familiar Scene as Asia Screens for New Bat-Borne Virus

This time originating out of India, six Asian nations have begun screening at airports for signs of the Nipah virus. A bat-borne virus known to cause fever, brain inflammation, and respiratory issues is the latest “nothing to see here virus” coming out of Asia. It was only six years ago to the month that rumors of a coronavirus spreading out of China began to grip the world. Little did we know how the virus out of Wuhan would change the world, global economy, and our individual lives.

Here we are in 2026 as this new virus emerges from India prompting concern from regional nations while India says there is nothing to worry about. The only problem here is that this virus boasts a mortality rate of 40% to 75%. While we hope that India is correct and there is no cause for concern, we can’t help but remember those exact words coming out of China six years ago.

What seems to be true is that if a viral threat to the world emerges, the origin nation will tell us there is nothing to worry about. They will lie and obfuscate until the body bags start piling up. We can’t trust them as the source of information and all we can do is prepare for the day their lie is exposed at the cost of human lives. 

Remembering the COVID-19 Outbreak of 2019

Image source: Envato

There is a great deal about the COVID-19 outbreak of 2019 that we still don’t know and a great deal of information that we feel is still kept from the public. However, the timeline of the outbreak is important for citizens to understand as it gives them a schedule as to how long they have to prepare if they have not already. 

The first known case of the coronavirus was recorded on December 1st, 2019. Within a week, clusters of outbreaks began to occur in Wuhan and by the middle of December, the new virus was known internally to the Chinese medical community. There were no alerts sent out and the World Health Organization wasn’t notified. 

Rumors began to swirl in the west of the outbreak, but China assured the world that “there was nothing to worry about.” Chinese doctors began to warn each other through private messages, and those who did found themselves under arrest. It wasn’t until January 23rd, 2020, that Wuhan was locked down and by then, the virus had already reached the west. 

In late February, northern Italy bore the brunt and by March 9th, the entire nation was locked down. Europe followed suit the following week and by March 19th, the United States had joined the global lock down. That’s less than four months from the first case to the entire global order being shut down. That is how fast this moves and that is why it is important for all to take note of such “nothing to see here” viruses. 

What Exactly is the Nipah Virus and When Did it Start?

Image source: The week

The first known cases of the Nipah virus were recorded in 1998 among a group of Malaysian pig farmers. Over 260 cases were reported resulting in 108 fatalities. Various smaller outbreaks have occurred in Asia over the past few decades as the virus is carried by a variety of species of bats indigenous to Asia. It can be transferred to the other animals, such as pigs, and then to humans as was the case in Malaysia. 

This virus is not a Coronavirus, but rather a Henipavirus. However, both are zoonotic viruses meaning that they can jump from animals into humans with deadly consequences. The incubation period is anywhere between 3 to 14 days before symptoms appear. Those symptoms are fever, brain swelling, difficulty breathing, chills, vomiting, diarrhea, and in 40-75% of the cases, death. Those symptoms began to appear in India this month and if it is to spread around the world, the clock is ticking. 

Understanding How to Prepare for Viral Outbreaks Around the World

Image source: MDPI

Here at MIRA Safety, we are dedicated to keeping the average American family safe. We believe it is every head of household’s responsibility to look after their family and none should assume that the government will come to save the day. We use the outbreak of the Nipah virus, not to make pandemic predictions, but to show you how quickly the world can change. Also to remind you that governments will not be honest about its origin or the looming threat. 

Now, because the Coronavirus is so fresh on the minds of Americans, we’ll do a quick breakdown of similarities and differences to help you plan. 

Similarities Between COVID-19 and the Nipahvirus

• Both are infectious zoonotic viruses, meaning they can originate in animals and then infect people. Blame a bat, pig, or other animal, zoonotic viruses are all the same. 

• Respiratory symptoms are a common factor. This is what makes it so difficult to diagnose is the fact that symptoms often mirror that of the common cold or flu. 

• Good hygiene practices still win the day. Wash your hands and avoid coming into contact with sick individuals. Keep your distance when necessary and avoid finding out if you were wrong about a sick individual. 

Differences Between COVID-19 and the Nipahvirus

• The fatality rate of the Nipahvirus is much higher. As high as 70%, if COVID-19 had a fatality rate this high it would have changed the world order along the lines of the Black Plague. 

• COVID-19 spreads more easily because it transmits through respiratory droplets. With Nipah, you have to be in more close contact with bodily fluids or animals. 

• There are no known vaccines or treatments for the Nipahvirus. Either it kills you or it does not, you’ve got a 50% to 25% chance of survival. 

The question then becomes what the American family should do when information cannot be trusted and the timeline is condensed. The answer is to not only prepare for the threats you can imagine, but prepare for the threats you can’t yet conceive. How can you prepare for threats you can’t imagine? For the answer, we need to look no further than Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

Using Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to Prepare for the Unimaginable

Image source: Bitesize Learning

Physiological needs is the first step in the hierarchy and truthfully it doesn’t matter the source of the crisis for this to be true. It could be a Coronavirus, Hepinavirus, or nuclear incident, if this stage fails, nothing else matters. This is air, food, water, shelter, and protection from the elements. You can survive for a few days without water, a few weeks without food, but only a few minutes without air. We remind people of this often when demonstrating the utility of a quality gas mask during any crisis you can imagine and those you can’t. 

The next stage in the hierarchy of needs is safety and security. This includes personal safety, resources, health, and property. None of it matters without air, food, or water. When those are met, this is where you survive the long-haul. Personal safety means firearms to take down the bad guys and body armor for when they try to take you down. Who are the bad guys in any scenario? Those who didn’t prepare because they will come for what you have. 

Beyond that you reach the stages of love and belonging, esteem, and finally self-actualization. All things that we think would be important in a long term survival scenario, but none that you will get to experience if you don’t master the first two steps in the hierarchy of needs. Any crisis you can imagine in non-fiction or fiction will require those two steps to be met in order to survive. When in doubt, start there. 

Don’t Let the Coronavirus Make You Complacent about the Next Virus

Image source: Envato

We know that governments took extreme measures during the most recent pandemic and went overboard with regards to rights and basic medicine. Arresting people on open beaches helped no one. Meanwhile, prolonged and excessive lock downs created a generation of school kids that are measurably behind while working from home created more alcohol abuse than can be measured. 

However, complacency kills is a common mantra spoken throughout the military and as a Marine veteran of Iraq, I can confirm that this is the case. All it takes is for a dozen quiet and uneventful patrols for a Marine to let his guard down and not recognize the threat right in front of him. We can’t let that happen and that’s another reason why we call attention to the Nipah virus threat emerging out of India. 

With a 40% to 75% mortality rate, this virus is nothing to ignore. If you are a family of 5 who catches it, that means 2 to 4 of you will die. I couldn’t pick which 2 of my household are certain to die and, as such, I won’t play those odds. Neither should you. We can think back to the Ebola outbreaks in West Africa of 2014-2016 that had a 25% to 90% mortality rate. The silliness of COVID-19 restrictions must not lull us into a sense of complacency. Prepare and, when in doubt, prepare some more. 

MIRA Safety’s Mission of Keeping the Average American Family Safe

Image source: MIRA Safety

Finally, we’ll end by explaining more about why we are so passionate about the American family’s safety and survival. First, MIRA is family owned and we do for you what we would do for our own family and our own children. We are a mission-centric organization who believes in what we produce because we understand the consequences if we fail. 

In addition, for far too long the idea of prepping has been treated as a fringe hobby. When, in reality, it is merely securing the basic hierarchy of needs that we all need to survive. Every American family deserves as much and posterity would not forgive us if we neglect to do so. It is human nature to crave fresh air and as such, we help you secure that need. Rumor has it, gunfights are notoriously unkind to the second place finisher. As such, we provide you an ability to protect yourself when others come for your supplies.

Namely, we help the average American family prepare for the day that most people dread. They dread it so much that they can’t think of it and consequently they never prepare for it. Don’t let that be you or your family. If we can help in any way or answer any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out. We don’t know what will happen with the Nipah virus, but we’re not going to wait around to find out before we take action. Stay safe, friends, and keep training, and then train some more.