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Hospital 2009 H1N1 Pandemic Influenza Readiness Review Checklist
"Hospitals have planned for an influenza pandemic for several years, but thus far the characteristics of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic are different than the high-severity pandemic that had been anticipated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) have developed this Readiness Review Checklist as a supplement to existing hospital emergency management plans. This list focuses on information hospitals can use in response to a surge in H1N1 and seasonal flu patients rather than the basic planning and regulatory considerations included in earlier checklists."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
2009
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FEMA Disaster Assistance Fact Sheet: Pandemic Influenza
"The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in cooperation and coordination with various State and Federal agencies, is prepared to take appropriate and authorized action in response to requests for Federal assistance through the Stafford Act as a result of a pandemic influenza. […] In order to assist States in assessing impacts and evaluating the need for Federal assistance in a pandemic influenza, FEMA has developed these guidelines for requesting Stafford Act assistance from the Federal Government."
United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2009
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Foodborne Active Disease Surveillance Network (FoodNet) 2006 Surveillance Report
"The Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) is the principal foodborne disease component of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Emerging Infections Program (EIP). FoodNet is a collaborative project among CDC, ten state health departments, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) and the Center for Veterinary Medication (CVM) of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FoodNet is an active sentinel surveillance network designed to produce stable and accurate national estimates of the burden and sources of foodborne diseases in the United States through active surveillance and additional studies. This enhanced surveillance and investigation conducted by FoodNet are integral to developing and evaluating new prevention and control strategies to improve the safety of our food and the public's health. In 2006, the FoodNet surveillance area included 45.5 million persons, or 15.2% of the United States population. FoodNet ascertained 17,432 laboratory-confirmed infections of Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Listeria, Salmonella, Shigella, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157, STEC non-O157, Vibrio and Yersinia. Most infections were due to Salmonella (38%) or Campylobacter (33%). Infections were approximately equally distributed between genders, and, for many pathogens, the highest risk of reported infection occurred among children
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.); United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2009
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Foodborne Active Disease Surveillance Network (FoodNet) Surveillance Report, 2007
"The Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) is the principal foodborne disease component of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Emerging Infections Program (EIP). FoodNet is a collaborative project among CDC, ten state health departments, the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) and the Center for Veterinary Medication (CVM) of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). FoodNet is an active sentinel surveillance network designed to produce stable and accurate national estimates of the burden and sources of foodborne diseases in the United States through active surveillance and additional studies. This enhanced surveillance and investigation conducted by FoodNet are integral to developing and evaluating new prevention and control strategies to improve the safety of our food and the public's health. In 2007, the FoodNet surveillance area included 45.9 million persons, or 15.2% of the United States population. FoodNet ascertained 18,039 laboratory-confirmed infections of Campylobacter, Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Listeria, Salmonella, Shigella, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157, STEC non-O157, Vibrio and Yersinia. Most infections were due to Salmonella (38%) or Campylobacter (33%). Infections were equally distributed between genders, and the highest incidence of infection with many pathogens occurred among children
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.); United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2009
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Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response: A WHO Guidance Document
"The information and recommendations contained in this guidance is the product of expert opinion, derived from several international consultations which included examination of available information and modeling studies, input from public health experts on lessons learned from SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome] and both animal and human influenza responses, and consolidation of recommendations in existing WHO [World Health Organization] guidance. This guidance was subject to an extensive public review. All external experts and contributors for all meetings and consultations, including those in the public review, have signed a declaration of interest statement in accordance with WHO policy. A small number of participants indicated a conflict of interest. However it was deemed by the working group that these declarations were not sufficient in conflict with the recommendations, to exclude them from the guidance development process. The declarations of interest are available upon request. For more information on the revision process, see Annex 2. The Global Influenza Programme will revise this guidance in 2014, or sooner in the event of significant developments which impact pandemic preparedness and response planning."
World Health Organization
2009
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Limiting the Impact of Pandemic Influenza through Community-Level Actions
"Influenza pandemics are rare but recurring events. Ten pandemics have been recorded over the last 300 years, with starting points ranging from 10 to 49 years apart. In the 20th century, pandemics occurred in 1918, 1957 and 1968. Considered one of the deadliest disease events in human history, the 'Spanish influenza' in 1918 claimed more than 40 million people worldwide. By any calculation, that outbreak killed more people in a year than the Black Death of the Middle Ages killed in a century; it killed more people in 24 weeks than AIDS has killed in 24 years."
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
2009
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Guidance for Establishing Crisis Standards of Care for Use in Disaster Situations: A Letter Report
"The influenza pandemic caused by the 2009 H1N1 virus underscores the immediate and critical need to prepare for a public health emergency in which thousands, tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of people suddenly seek and require medical care in communities across the United States. Guidance for Establishing Crisis Standards of Care for Use in Disaster Situations draws from a broad spectrum of expertise-including state and local public health, emergency medicine and response, primary care, nursing, palliative care, ethics, the law, behavioral health, and risk communication-to offer guidance toward establishing standards of care that should apply to disaster situations, both naturally occurring and manmade, under conditions in which resources are scarce. Guidance for Establishing Crisis Standards of Care for Use in Disaster Situations explores two case studies that illustrate the application of the guidance and principles laid out in the report. One scenario focuses on a gradual-onset pandemic flu. The other scenario focuses on an earthquake and the particular issues that would arise during a no-notice event. Outlining current concepts and offering guidance, this book will prove an asset to state and local public health officials, healthcare facilities, and professionals in the development of systematic and comprehensive policies and protocols for standards of care in disasters where resources are scarce. In addition, the extensive 'operations' section of the book provides guidance to clinicians, healthcare institutions, and state and local public health officials for how those crisis standards of care should be implemented in a disaster situation."
National Academies Press (U.S.)
Altevogt, Bruce M.; Stroud, Clare; Hanson, Sarah L.
2009
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Health Care Workers in Peril: Preparing to Protect Worker Health and Safety During Pandemic Influenza
"An influenza pandemic is projected to have a global impact requiring a sustained, large-scale response from the healthcare community to provide care to sick patients. Healthcare workers will be at very high risk of becoming infected when caring for patients with pandemic flu unless adequate health and safety measures are in place, in advance of the pandemic, that will protect them. There is no existing comprehensive federal OSHA standard with mandatory and enforceable provisions that require planning and preparation designed to protect healthcare workers from exposures to pandemic influenza. Nevertheless, it is essential that workplaces plan and prepare for safety and health issues before the flu arrives. In an effort to assess the extent of employer efforts in planning adequate safety and health measures for healthcare workers, a group of unions developed a 'pandemic flu preparedness survey' to assess the level of preparedness on a facility basis. The survey was distributed to union leaders across the country who represent healthcare workers in unionized facilities. One hundred four (104) facility surveys were collected by six unions in fourteen states. The results of the survey indicate that health care facilities have made some progress in preparing for an influenza pandemic but much more needs to be done. More than one-third of the respondents believe their workplace is either not ready or only slightly ready to address the health and safety needs necessary to protect healthcare workers during a pandemic."
AFSCME
2009
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Broadcasting Flu Messages -- Citywide Transmission and Community Reception: An Evaluation of Ready New York's Pandemic Influence Outreach Campaign
From the Executive Summary: "Public health risk communication is a central feature of New York City's pandemic flu preparedness plan. Particularly in the early stages of a pandemic, before effective therapeutic measures are available, non-pharmaceutical interventions such as social distancing, personal protective hygiene, and voluntary isolation are critical strategies for suppressing the spread of a novel viral strain. New York City health and emergency management officials have decided to use the city's risk communication structure - the Office of Emergency Management's Ready New York outreach and dissemination capacities - as one of the primary means to communicate pandemic flu health messages. In October 2008, NCDP [National Center for Disaster Preparedness] contracted with Public Health Solutions and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to evaluate the reach and effectiveness of its planned Ready NY [New York] Pandemic Flu community outreach campaign."
National Center for Disaster Preparedness; Joseph L. Mailman School of Public Health
Abramson, David M. (David Michael), 1958-; Walsh, Lauren; Sury, Jonathan . . .
2009
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Hospital Preparedness Checklist for Pandemic Influenza: Focus on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009
"Hospitals play a critical role within the health system in providing essential medical care to the community, particularly during a crisis, such as an epidemic or a pandemic. Prolonged and combined outbreaks can lead to the progressive spread of disease with rapidly increasing service demands that can potentially overwhelm the capacity of hospitals and the health system at large. To enhance the readiness of the health facilities to cope with the challenges of an epidemic, a pandemic or any other emergency or disaster, hospital managers need to ensure the initiation of relevant generic priority action. This document aims to provide a checklist of the key action to carry out in the context of a continuous hospital emergency preparedness process."
World Health Organization. Regional Office for Europe
2009
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California Department of Education Pandemic Influenza Manual
From the document: "This manual is intended to complement federal guidance to LEAs [Local Educational Agencies] regarding pandemic influenza and to provide resources and guidance specific to the state of California. It is the policy of the California Department of Education (CDE) to take all possible steps to help limit the spread of influenza, mitigate disease and suffering, and lessen the impact on staff, children and families, and child care and after school providers."
California. Department of Education
O'Connell, Jack
2009
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American Association of Swine Veterinarians Position Statement on Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Influenza
"The American Association of Swine Veterinarians (AASV) Board of Directors has approved the adoption of a series of position statements regarding the A/H1N1 2009 pandemic influenza virus. The document was developed by the AASV H1N1 Influenza Working Group chaired by Dr Joe Connor. While pork continues to be safe to eat, concerns have arisen regarding the potential cross-species transmission of the novel virus. Recognizing the necessity to protect both animal and human health, the AASV Executive Committee created the working group, which it charged with examining the influenza issue and developing recommendations based on the best available current knowledge and pertinent published literature. In response, the working group developed a series of recommendations to address concerns in four broad topic areas: protection of swine workers, vaccination of swine herds, vaccine development, and movement of animals from herds infected with the novel virus. The specific recommendations are outlined below. The emergence of the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 influenza virus has reminded us of the potential for cross-species transmission of influenza viruses. As veterinarians, we believe that protecting human health is of primary importance, and all reasonable measures should be taken to avoid any unnecessary risk to human health. The 'One Health Initiative' of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Medical Association recognizes the impact that animals have on human health and vice versa. An essential component of protecting human health is providing a safe, high quality, and affordable food supply."
American Association of Swine Veterinarians
2009
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Pandemic Flu: Closing the Gaps, Hearing Before the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration, of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, First Session, June 3, 2009
From the opening statement of Mark L. Pryor: "This is the Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration and it is time for us to update our efforts on pandemic influenza. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has described pandemic flu as both inevitable and as one of the biggest threats to public health in the Nation. In October 2007, I chaired a hearing entitled, ''Pandemic Influenza: State and Local Efforts to Prepare.'' At that hearing, HHS, DHS, and State and local health officials testified. The witnesses cited efforts underway that included national strategies, plans, and exercises. Now less than 2 years later, we are faced with the reality of a pandemic threat. In late March and early April 2009, the first cases of a new flu virus, the H1N1, were reported in Southern California and San Antonio, Texas. So far, the CDC has confirmed 10,053 cases in 50 States and in the District of Columbia. This includes seven cases in my home State of Arkansas according to the CDC. The CDC reports that most of the influenza viruses being detected now in the United States are of the strain. Further, CDC's Dr. Anne Schuchat has said this will be a marathon and not a sprint, and even if this outbreak is a small one, we can anticipate that we may have a subsequent or follow-up outbreak several months later and we need to stay ready." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John Ensign, Bernice Steinhardt, John Thomasian, Paul E. Jarris and Stephen M. Ostroff.
United States. Government Printing Office
2009
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Beyond the Checklist: Addressing Shortfalls in National Pandemic Influenza Preparedness, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity and Science and Technology, of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Tenth Congress, First Session, September 26, 2007
From the opening statement of James R. Langevin, "Today we will explore what it takes to prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic that would affect every sector of society and every person in the world. Planning is problematic to begin with because it is so difficult to fathom both the potential casualties and the impact of such a pandemic. Even when we focus just on our own country, the projected numbers are still staggering--200,000 dead, 2 million ill, all sectors and every aspect of the infrastructure negatively impacted. Though this is a problem that we will not be able to control through standard disease management practices, we can and must rise to the challenge. Make no mistake about it--we are due for a severe influenza pandemic at some point for a variety of reasons. The influenza viruses that could result in a pandemic are increasing in virulence. Record numbers of humans are now living in close proximity to current and potential animal carriers. Rapid transit moves people and cargo at increasingly faster rates, fostering the movement and transfer of diseases. Influenza viruses are already mutating faster than we could have imagined, and the toll that avian influenza is taking on other countries is already devastating." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: James R. Langevin, Michael T. McCaul, Bill Pascrell Jr., B.Tilman Jolly, Bernice Steinhardt, W. Craig Vanderwagen, L. Anthony Cirillo, Michael C. Caldwell, Peter A. Shult and David L. Lakey
United States. Government Printing Office
2009
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Beyond Readiness: An Examination of the Current Status and Future Outlook of the National Response to Pandemic Influenza, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, First Session, July 29, 2009
From the opening statement of Bennie G. Thompson: The committee is meeting today to receive testimony on 'Beyond Readiness: An Examination of the Current Status and Future Outlook of the National Response to Pandemic Influenza.' [...] The good news is that a vaccine is currently under development, and over the last 4 years, Congress has provided approximately $8.6 billion for pandemic planning efforts. But unfortunately, despite this amount of funding, according to GAO [Government Accountability Office] there are still major gaps in pandemic planning and preparedness efforts. Among the major gaps is the failure to plan for additional bed space and medical supplies. Additionally, GAO determined that leadership roles and responsibilities for an influenza pandemic need to be further clarified, tested, and exercised. Given this country's recent experience with disasters, it is hard to believe that there are those who underestimate the importance of plans and drills. [...] Finally, we need to understand that the emergency preparedness and response community and the health care community have always shared resources during crises and disasters. These formal and informal partnerships may be strained during a pandemic. Increased drills and exercises will strengthen these relationships, decrease uncertainty, and improve response and recovery. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Bennie G. Thompson, Peter T. King, Paul C. Broun, Stephen F. Lynch, Jane Holl Lute, William Corr, Bernice Steinhardt, Colleen M. Kelley, Richard G. Muth, and Thomas A. Farley.
United States. Government Printing Office
2009
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State and Local Pandemic Preparedness: Hearing Before the United States House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, First Session, May 20, 2009
From the opening statement of Edolphus Towns: "Today's hearing will look at the ability of States and local communities to maintain an appropriate level of readiness to respond to a pandemic flu, and how federal authorities can assist them in mounting a sustained and effective response to a pandemic striking the United States. [...]. Current events remind us that a pandemic can strike at any time, and with little warning. Our communities need to stay ready to respond to such a threat. I am hopeful that this hearing will shed light on exactly how prepared we are to respond to a pandemic at the State and local level. I am also hopeful that our witnesses will help us discover what we all can do -not just the federal government - to make sure our communities are ready to handle what Mother Nature dishes out." Member statements and witness testimony include that of Edolphus Towns, Daniel M. Sosin, Guthrie Birkhead, Rex Archer, Terry Allan, and Paul Jarris.
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform (2007-)
2009
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New York State Guidance: County Mass Fatality Annex With Emphasis on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness [2009]
"The State of New York is subject to a wide variety of natural, technological and human-caused hazards. The occurrence of such hazards has the potential to impact public and private property and critical infrastructure; they can also cause great economic hardship, and a significant toll in human lives. For example, the crash of TWA Flight 800 off the coast of Long Island in July of 1996 caused all levels of government to review airline crashes / disasters and the effect that these events have on local, county, State and Federal response capabilities. This incident presented challenges in mass fatality management in the debris field, Long Island Sound. During the September 11, 2001 attacks, close to 3,000 people lost their lives in New York City. In this case, the volume of fatalities and the processing of the remains caused significant challenges. New York State and its counties are not alone. On a national scale, the country has endured many tragedies that have resulted in mass fatalities, including Hurricane Katrina, in which 1,836 people died."
New York State Emergency Management Office; New York (State). Department of Health
2009-01
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H1N1 Pandemic Flu Preparedness: Not Your Usual Bug: A Guide for the Community
This booklet provides information to help community members gather the information and resources necessary to prepare for the H1N1 influenza pandemic. It includes tips on how community members can care for themselves and for their families. It also provides guidelines for when to call a doctor or other health care services.
Multnomah County (Or.). Health Department
2009?
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Guide to Covering Pandemic Flu [website]
"This Web site is a one-stop resource for reporters, editors and newsroom managers trying to navigate the complex and at times confusing details of the flu story. Most of the information is relevant for any influenza pandemic, extending beyond the 2009 H1N1 virus. It is written and edited by journalists, for journalists." Topics include but are not limited to: an introduction to influenza, the science, pandemic preparedness, pandemic reporting, crisis communication, and the history of pandemics.
Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University
2009
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Global Pandemic Influenza Action Plan to Increase Vaccine Supply: Progress Report 2006-2008
"The first approach of the Global Action Plan (GAP) is to encourage countries to increase their seasonal vaccine use. This will primarily reduce the disease burden of seasonal influenza infection, but will importantly provide an incentive for industry to increase its manufacturing capacity for influenza vaccines. The GAP therefore highlights the need for national immunization policies to make increased demand for seasonal influenza vaccine a priority, together with resource mobilization plans-at the regional and national levels-to secure sustained introduction. It also provides an overview of the policy and programmatic issues that need to be considered in this endeavour."
World Health Organization. Department of Immunization, Vaccines, and Biologicals
2009
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Kansas Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Plan Version 2.0
"Influenza viruses are unique in their ability to cause sudden illness among humans in all age groups on a global scale. The importance of influenza viruses as biologic threats is due to a number of factors including the high degree of transmissibility, the presence of a vast reservoir of novel variants (primarily aquatic birds) and the unusual properties of the viral genome. The infamous 'Spanish flu' of 1918-19 was responsible for more than 20 million deaths worldwide, primarily among young adults. Mortality rates associated with recent pandemics of 1957 and 1968 were reduced in part by the use of antibiotic therapy for secondary bacterial infections and aggressive supportive care of infected patients. However, these later pandemics were associated with high rates of morbidity and social disruption. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates the economic loss associated with the next pandemic will be in the billions of dollars. Experts agree an influenza pandemic is inevitable. To prepare for the next pandemic, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) Center for Public Health Preparedness (CPHP), in cooperation with local and state partners, has developed this Kansas Pandemic Influenza
Preparedness and Response Plan, which provides an overview of strategies to reduce pandemic influenza-related morbidity, mortality and social disruption in the state."
Kansas. Department of Health and Environment
2009-01
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Influenza Pandemic Planning Guide for Homeless and Housing Service Providers [January 2009]
"The purpose of this planning guide is to help Knox County homeless service agencies - including shelters, day programs, housing programs, and others - prepare for an influenza pandemic. This planning guide: 1) Provides information on influenza, what homeless agencies can expect, and where to get more information. 2) Outlines the Knox County Health Department's (KCHD) role during an influenza pandemic. 3) Lays out issues of special concern for homeless service agencies on pandemic flu preparation and response and offers initial guidance. 4) Identifies areas for future discussion and planning. 5) Encourages organizations to start incorporating new practices in their day-to-day operations now that will help them during an influenza pandemic or any other emergency. "
Knox County (Tenn.)
2009-01
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Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Planning Project: An Evaluation of Strategies for Engaging Rural Community Partners
"Rural communities frequently lack resources and sufficient formal government structures, requiring these communities to engage a diverse group of stakeholders in order to facilitate effective preparedness, response, and recovery processes. The Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Planning Project was an interagency partnership between the USA Center for Rural Public Health Preparedness and the Texas Department of State Health Services Region 2/3 (HSR 2/3) to engage public and private rural community partners within HSR 2/3 in the development of pandemic influenza response plans. The USA Center conducted an evaluation focused on county participation, types of stakeholders participating, local versus regional delivery, and interactive versus non-interactive/didactic delivery strategies. These results suggest that interactive strategies held locally within communities over a period of time increase participation rates and diversity of stakeholder groups represented."
Texas Public Health Association
Artzberger, Jill; Carpender, S.K.; Griffith, J.M. . . .
2009
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Pandemic Influenza (Flu) Plan for Kansas State University
"Emergency preparedness planning is essential because it affords the University an opportunity to respond more effectively to a number of emergency situations including a possible pandemic. This plan serves as a guide to help us respond appropriately to an influenza pandemic. Flexibility is needed based on up-to-date information variables."
Kansas State University
2009
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Pandemic Influenza and Complex Adaptive System of Systems (CASoS) Engineering
From the Abstract: "I present the story of my and colleagues' involvement in formulating the US's policy for mitigating pandemic influenza that culminated in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's issuance of Interim Pre-Pandemic Planning Guidance in February 2007. Modeling lies at the heart of this formulation, but interaction, drive, serendipity, hard work, and advocacy for the use of models to select robust policy in the face of great uncertainty were required for its actualization. Reflecting on this entire process, and others in which high impact influence has been achieved, has led myself and colleagues to the recognition that nearly all the systems we wish to influence can be categorized as Complex Adaptive Systems of Systems or CASoS and that our field of endeavor is CASoS Engineering."
Sandia National Laboratories
Glass, Robert J.
2009?
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Report to Congress: Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Spending [January 2009]
"This report is an update to the previous five reports to Congress that were provided in June and December of 2006 and 2007, and in June of 2008. This report covers all activities from December 2005 to January 15, 2009. The report covers the pandemic influenza funding provided in both the December 2005 emergency supplemental appropriations bill (PL 109-148) and the June 2006 emergency supplemental appropriations bill (PL 109-234).
Concern surrounding the threat of an influenza pandemic sparked by the existence of a novel influenza virus reemerged in August 2005 when animal outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1virus were reported in twelve countries around the world with 112 total human cases confirmed in four of those countries. Three and a half years later, the number of countries confirming animal outbreaks has expanded to 61, with 387 total human cases confirmed in fifteen of those countries. During the past twelve months, animal outbreaks due to the H5N1 influenza virus have continued in Asia and North Africa, where the virus is now endemic. Despite education efforts to minimize exposure to infected poultry, human cases continue to be associated with these outbreaks. The virus has also been identified in European countries, including Germany and the United Kingdom in 2008. In addition to the ongoing global concern raised by the spread and evolution of the H5N1 virus subtype, other novel influenza viruses have emerged. In the United Kingdom, a highly pathogenic avian influenza H7N7 virus infection appeared in domestic poultry."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2009-01
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Getting Beyond Getting Ready for Pandemic Influenza
"The report examines the Nation's state of preparedness and response capabilities in the event of a pandemic influenza outbreak. It identifies sixteen weaknesses in the outgoing Bush Administration's approach to get prepared for pandemic influenza. In addition, the report provides fifteen critical recommendations for what Congress, the incoming Administration, and the public and private sectors can do to achieve National readiness to combat this threat. [...] The change in Presidential leadership presents a new opportunity to ensure that the Nation is ready to address pandemic influenza from a position of strength. The House Committee on Homeland Security looks forward to working with the Obama Administration to address this threat and achieve National readiness."
United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security
2009-01
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Assessment of States' Operating Plans to Combat Pandemic Influenza: Report to Homeland Security Council
"This report summarizes the status of States' operating plans with respect to preparedness for, response to, and recovery from an influenza pandemic. This assessment fulfills a requirement (Action #6.1.1.2) established by the Homeland Security Council, Executive Office of the President of the United States, in its National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza: Implementation Plan. [...] We are pleased to submit this summary report on States' operating plans for combating pandemic influenza. Three pandemics occurred during the Twentieth Century-one, in 1918/19, with catastrophic health and socio-economic consequences. The pandemic threat is real and continuing, irrespective of how much the perception of the threat may wax or wane over time. Therefore, if we are to counter the next pandemic effectively, we must prepare now. This assessment process has done much to increase understanding by State and Federal Government officials alike as to the demands that an influenza pandemic would place upon them. We are grateful to the Working Group from the participating U.S. Government Departments as well as to their State counterparts for undertaking the arduous efforts that this assessment required. Whatever forms future plans and assessments may take, the health and socio-economic well being of the Nation will be well served by a collective commitment to continuous quality improvement in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from an influenza pandemic."
United States. Department of Health and Human Services
2009-01
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Preparedness Planning for Pandemic Influenza Among Large US Maternity Hospitals
"The objective of this investigation was to determine the state of pandemic influenza preparedness and to delineate commonly reported challenges among a sample of larger US national maternity hospitals. This was done given the recent emphasis on hospital disaster planning and the disproportionate morbidity and mortality that pregnant women have suffered in previous influenza pandemics. An internet-based survey was sent to all 12 members of the Council of Women's and Infants' Specialty Hospitals. Questions addressed hospital demo- graphics and overall pandemic preparedness planning, including presence of a pandemic planning committee and the existence of written plans addressing communications, surge capacity, degradation of services, and advance supply planning. Nine of 12 (75%) hospitals responded. All had active pandemic planning committees with identified leadership. The majority (78%) had written formal plans regarding back-up communications, surge/overflow capacity, and degradation of services. However, fewer (44%) reported having written plans in place regarding supply-line/stockpiling of resources. The most common challenges noted were staff and supply coordination, ethical distribution of limited medical resources, and coordination with government agencies. In conclusion, the majority of the Council of Women's and Infants' Specialty Hospitals maternity hospitals have preliminary infrastructure for pandemic influenza planning, but many challenges exist to optimize maternal and fetal outcomes during the next influenza pandemic."
Co-Action Publishing
Beigi, Richard H.; Davis, G.; Hodges, J. . . .
2008-12-30
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Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: Developing Regional Continuity of Operations Plans for Health Departments
State public health departments should develop regional plans for maintaining essential, public health services and providing redundant staffing capabilities during an emergency.
Lessons Learned Information Sharing (LLIS); United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency
2008-12-12?
