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• Washington Regional Threat and Analysis Center: Daily Open Source Brief, August 3, 2009

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  This daily open source brief from the Washington Regional Threat and Analysis Center covers topics including an upcoming pandemic flu webcast, gaps in pandemic planning and preparedness in the U.S., vaccines and other protection against H1N1, a plague outbreak in northwest China, DHS calls for ordinary citizens to watch for suspicious activity, Al Qaeda adaptation to drone attacks, and upcoming homeland security related conferences.

  Washington Regional Threat and Analysis Center

  2009-08-03
• Agricultural Quarantine Inspection Monitoring (AQIM) Handbook

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  "The AQIM [Agricultural Quarantine Inspection Monitoring] Handbook covers background information about the Government Performance Results Act (GPRA) and its influence to integrate risk analysis and risk management into Agriculture Quarantine Inspection (AQI) program. With that introduction, the Handbook then provides necessary information about statistics, risk analysis, and a sampling process to provide the foundation for implementing AQIM. Next, the Handbook provides guidelines and instruction for setting up designated locations for AQIM. The remainder of the Handbook is divided into pathway sections. Given that AQIM is a different way of conducting business, this Handbook is an attempt to provide officers and managers with background and guidance to implement AQIM activities. As processes improve and are developed, the Handbook will expand in its scope. Along with specific documents written to establish local procedures, such as a standard operating procedure, this Handbook will serve as the information tool for implementing AQIM activities and for training individuals about risk analysis and risk management."

  United States. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

  2009-08
• Report of the Interagency Workgroup on Pandemic Influenza and At-Risk Individuals

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  "This report is an introduction to planning for at-risk individuals during pandemic influenza. Limited explicit information is available to prepare emergency planners, public health agencies, and human services providers for the impact that pandemic influenza will have on the medical, behavioral health, and human services networks that provide needed functional support for at-risk individuals. Using the functional definition of at-risk (special needs) individuals in the National Response Framework (NRF); at-risk individuals may constitute as much as 62% of the U.S. population. Historically, these individuals have not been well integrated into the emergency planning process and their needs and concerns have only recently begun to be more comprehensively addressed in State and local emergency planning. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Interagency Workgroup on At-Risk Individuals and Pandemic Influenza was tasked to make recommendations for integrating the needs and concerns of at-risk individuals into pandemic influenza emergency planning. This report presents these recommendations. It is intended as a resource for service providers and emergency planners. The report serves as an introduction to planning for at-risk individuals during pandemic influenza. It begins with a review of the needs and concerns of at-risk individuals, moves to key concepts and planning assumptions, and provides specific recommendations and resources for integration of at-risk individual needs into Federal, State, and local pandemic influenza response plans."

  United States. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response

  2009-08
• ECDC Interim Guidance: Use of Specific Pandemic Influenza Vaccines During the H1N1 2009 Pandemic

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  "The purpose of this document is to provide background information and guidance on pandemic vaccine use and options for prioritisation strategies that can be employed during any influenza pandemic affecting Europe. However, it especially focuses on the A(H1N1) 2009 pandemic. Like other guidance issued by [the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control] ECDC, and in accordance with its mandate, the document does not attempt to provide recommendations. Rather, it presents options based on the available scientific information and experience both within Europe and without. The document is based on scientific evidence, public health principles and experience, expert opinions and on what is recommended in the various national pandemic preparedness plans in EU countries, by WHO and other national analyses. This document is intimately linked to the ECDC Risk Assessment which, in addition to the European data, also draws on the information becoming available to WHO and other partners, notably in countries that are already affected in North America and in countries in the southern hemisphere currently suffering from the regular winter influenza season and infections caused by the new virus. This document will be updated at intervals as more data and analyses become available. Moreover, for a more precise development of vaccination strategies, the impact in combination with other interventions like the use of non-pharmaceutical public health measures and antiviral medications should also be considered."

  European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

  2009-08
• Pandemic Influenza Preparedness and Response Planning: Guidelines for Community Corrections

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  "Influenza pandemics have occurred throughout history. They are caused by viruses that have not previously infected humans and to which people have little or no immunity. Pandemics happen when a virus mutates so that it is able to infect humans and spread rapidly and sustainably from person to person. [...] On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its pandemic alert level to Phase 6, officially declaring the first pandemic of the 21st Century. Beginning in mid-March 2009, when respiratory illness caused by the novel H1N1 influenza virus, the ―'Swine Flu', occurred in the Mexican State of Veracruz, the outbreak quickly spread to the United States and the rest of the world. [...] The CDC cautions that the course and impact of this pandemic is uncertain; the novelty of the H1N1 virus means that most people have no immunity to it, and, although the virus responds to some antiviral medications, as yet there is no vaccine. Scientists and medical professionals are watching the progression of the pandemic, conducting research, and attempting to develop an effective vaccine in time to minimize the impact of succeeding waves of H1N1 outbreaks. The ultimate toll of this pandemic remains to be seen."

  American Probation and Parole Association; United States. Bureau of Justice Assistance

  Bancroft, Patricia

  2009-08
• Ohio Pandemic Influenza Public Engagement Demonstration Project: Mass Fatality Management, Final Report

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  "The Ohio Pandemic Influenza Public Engagement Demonstration Project was initiated to support the development of response and recovery plans to manage the consequences of mass fatalities due to an outbreak of pandemic influenza in Ohio. This demonstration project proposed to build the capacity of Ohio's local public health jurisdictions, specifically those within 11 rural counties (five-county area in Southeast Homeland Security Sub-Region 1 [as of August 9, 2009, renamed South Central] and six counties within the Northwest Homeland Security Region), to engage the public in discussion about policy decisions related to management of mass fatalities (MFM) due to pandemic influenza. A public engagement process similar to one used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2005 and 2006 was applied. "

  Ohio State University

  Pearsol, Joanne

  2009-08
• Pandemic Influenza Fact Sheet for the Water Sector

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  This document provides information regarding pandemic influenza and the water sector. This fact sheet gives answers to questions such as: "What is Pandemic Influenza? Why Should the Water Sector be Concerned About Pandemic Influenza? Will Influenza Spread Through Drinking Water? Will Influenza Spread Through Wastewater? What Can Water and Wastewater Utilities do to Prepare? What is EPA Doing to Help Utilities Prepare? What Other Flu Specific Guidance is Available to Help Utilities Prepare? Will Vaccines be Available? [and]What Other Interventions May be Used?"

  United States. Environmental Protection Agency

  2009-08
• Stoddard Point of Dispensing (POD) Plan

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  "This plan for The Town of Stoddard is intended to provide a framework for dealing with a major public health emergency requiring the mass dispensing of medications."

  Stoddard (NH.)

  2009-07-27
• Guidelines for States Concerning the Management of Communicable Disease Posing a Serious Public Health Risk

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  From the Preface: "These guidelines are written to assist States in developing an aviation related plan for any communicable disease posing a serious public health risk, such as an influenza virus with human pandemic potential. A preparedness plan for aviation is required since air travel may increase the rate at which a disease spreads, thereby decreasing the time available for preparing interventions. Although it is probably not feasible to halt the spread of some diseases, advance preparation should make it possible to effect a delay and provide more time to prepare. Such preparation is necessary across many different sectors, including that of aviation. Any additional time to enable the production of an effective vaccine is likely to provide the best chance of mitigating the potential effects for a number of diseases that can be prevented by such a prophylactic measure. This information is written primarily for States and more detailed information that is specific to airports and airlines may be found on the websites of the Airports Council International (ACI) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA)."

  International Civil Aviation Organization

  2009-07-17?
• School Emergency Management Planning: Designating an Office to Manage Communication with Families during a Pandemic Influenza Outbreak

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  "Higher education institutions should consider designating a single department or office to manage communication with families during a pandemic influenza outbreak. University plans should also include provisions for establishing a call center during a pandemic influenza emergency." This document examines a case study in North Carolina.

  Lessons Learned Information Sharing (LLIS)

  2009-07-17?
• Are You Ready? Get Ready Event Guide

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  "Launched in 2006, APHA's [American Public Health Association] Get Ready campaign helps all Americans prepare themselves, their families and their communities for all disasters and hazards, including pandemic flu, infectious disease, natural disasters and other emergencies. Major highlights of the campaign include a national Get Ready Day, held the third Tuesday of each September, and Get Ready: Set Your Clocks, Check Your Stocks, which encourages people to check their emergency stockpiles when they change their clocks for daylight saving time. The campaign includes free resources for the public and health workers, including fact sheets, a blog, a newsletter, a Twitter, podcasts, Q&As and a calendar of events. In 2009, the Get Ready launched its first scholarship for high school students."

  American Public Health Association

  2009-07-07?
• Isolation and Quarantine (I&Q) Tabletop Exercise (TTX) Action Report / Improvement Plan (AAR/IP)

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  "Preparedness for public health emergencies involves a cycle of planning, training, exercising, evaluation, and improvement to develop and enhance response capacity and capabilities. Successful exercises, such as those in the New Hampshire Isolation and Quarantine (I&Q) Tabletop Exercise (TTX) provide critical information for this ongoing process; delineation and analyses of exercise results; development of recommendations or follow-up actions; and procedural or program improvements. This After Action Report (AAR) provides key information for continuing New Hampshire's efforts to achieve an enhanced level of public health preparedness and response capabilities for responding to a public health emergency and for activation and implementation of I&Q. This AAR presents and analyzes exercise issues and results, identifies strengths to be maintained and built upon, and identifies potential areas for further consideration or improvement."

  New Hampshire. Department of Safety; New Hampshire. Department of Health and Human Services

  2009-07
• State of Wyoming Department of Health Pandemic Influenza Response Plan, Version 7.0

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  "Pandemic influenza is considered to be a relatively high probability event, yet no one knows when the next pandemic will occur and there may be very little warning. Most experts believe that there will be one to six months between the identification of a novel influenza virus and the time widespread outbreaks begin to occur in the United States. Outbreaks are expected to occur simultaneously throughout the country, preventing relocation of human and material resources. The effect of influenza on individual communities will be relatively prolonged, an estimated six to eight weeks. Due to the prolonged nature of a pandemic influenza event, the World Health Organization (WHO) has defined phases to a pandemic in order to facilitate coordinated plans (Table 1). The Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) has developed its own pandemic phases for planning purposes (Table 2)."

  Wyoming. Department of Health

  2009-07
• FY2009 Spring Supplemental Appropriations for Overseas Contingency Operations [June 15, 2009]

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  "On June 11, 2009, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees announced a conference agreement on H.R. 2346, a bill providing supplemental appropriations for the remainder of FY2009. Floor votes are expected the week of June 15. On key issues, the agreement includes $5 billion, as in the Senate bill, to support U.S. loans to the International Monetary Fund, does not include a Senate provision allowing the Secretary of Defense to exempt photos of military detainees from release under the Freedom of Information Act; does not include $80 million requested for the Department of Defense and the Department of Justice to facilitate closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison; prohibits the release of Guantanamo detainees in the United States and prohibits transfers of prisoners except to be prosecuted; provides $1.9 billion for pandemic flu preparedness (declared to be a pandemic by the World Health Organization on June 11), and $5.8 billion more, contingent on the President determining it is needed; and adds $1 billion for the 'Cash for Clunkers' program to provide payments to consumers who trade in inefficient vehicles. […] H.R. 2346 provides funds, with some adjustments, that the Administration requested in four supplemental appropriations proposals, including an April 9 request for $83.4 billion in supplemental funding for defense, international affairs, domestic fire fighting, and other purposes; an April 30 request for $1.5 billion for influenza preparedness and response; and a May 12 request for $5 billion to support International Monetary Fund (IMF) borrowing authority."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Daggett, Stephen; Epstein, Susan B.; Tarnoff, Curt . . .

  2009-06-15
• Hertford County Pandemic Influenza Response Plan

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  "The Pandemic Influenza Response Plan for Hertford County (Plan) provides guidance to Public Health - Hertford County (HCPHA) and local partners regarding detection, response and recovery from an influenza pandemic. The Plan describes the unique challenges posed by a pandemic that may necessitate specific leadership decisions, response actions, and communications mechanisms. Specifically, the purpose of the plan is to: 1. Define preparedness activities that should be undertaken before a pandemic occurs that will enhance the effectiveness of response measures. 2. Describe the response, coordination and decision making structure that will incorporate HCPHA, the health care system in Hertford County, other local response agencies, and state and federal agencies during a pandemic. 3. Define roles and responsibilities for HCPHA, local health care partners and local response agencies during all phases of a pandemic. 4. Describe public health interventions in a pandemic response and the timing of such interventions. 5. Serve as a guide for local health care system partners, response agencies and businesses in the development of pandemic influenza response plans. 6. Provide technical support and information on which preparedness and response actions are based."

  Hertford County Public Health Authority

  2009-06-15
• Hospital Viability During a Pandemic Influenza Outbreak

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  "In the past 8 years since September 11, many improvements have been made to the National response capabilities; however, the ―all hazards�- approach is still inadequate to respond to a moderate pandemic outbreak. Shortcomings of our fragile healthcare framework combined with the prolonged duration of a pandemic make it difficult to prepare for such a catastrophic disaster. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the factors ensuring hospital viability during a pandemic influenza outbreak. To accomplish this, the study employed a comparative case study methodology utilizing four prominent emergency management events: 1918, Spanish flu (H1N1); 2003, SARS outbreak; 2005, Hurricane Katrina, and the 2009, Swine flu (H1N1) outbreak, for the purpose of finding common measures enabling a hospital to mitigate, prepare, respond, and recover from a pandemic. After reviewing the case study literature, 117 viability measures were identified. Furthermore, the concepts from the literature review coupled with the case study results led to discovery of seven hospital viability measures that will assist in mitigating a moderate pandemic, which are: maintaining a hospital's critical axis, staffing, security, logistics, surge capacity, public affairs, and emergency operations planning. Focusing preparedness efforts in these areas will provide protection from the next pandemic."

  U.S. Army Command and General Staff College

  Blackwell, Jeffrey K.

  2009-06-12
• 2009 Influenza Pandemic: An Overview [June 12, 2009]

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  "This report first provides a synopsis of key events, actions taken, and authorities invoked by [World Health Organization (WHO)], the U.S. federal government, and state and local governments. It then discusses the WHO process to determine the phase of a flu pandemic, and selected actions taken by the Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services, and by state and local authorities. Next, it lists congressional hearings held to date, and provides information about appropriations and funding for pandemic flu activities. Finally, it summarizes U.S. government pandemic flu planning documents and lists sources for additional information about the situation as it unfolds. This report will be continually updated to reflect unfolding events."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Redhead, C. Stephen; Lister, Sarah A.

  2009-06-12
• Weekly Homeland Security Newsletter [June 5, 2009]

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  The June 5, 2009 edition of The Weekly Homeland Security Newsletter presents articles on a number of topics, including "Obama Seeks 'New Beginning' With Muslim World, Europe Says U.S. Should Take Some Guantanamo Detainees, China's Aggressive Quarantine Measures Virtually Imprison Healthy Travelers, Plant to Destroy Chemical Weapons Opens in Russia, British Schoolchildren Taught to Spot Terrorists, U.S.-Philippines Partnership May Be Model for Fighting Terrorism Elsewhere, Threat Concern Prompts DHS to Halt U.S.--Based Delta Flights Into Kenya, 31% of Muslims in Europe Claim Discrimination, Haqqani Network Is Deadliest U.S. Foe in Afghanistan, Swine Flu Cases Surge Again, G8 Plans More Antiterror Measures, Mass-Casualty Exercise Prepares Vancouver for Olympics, DHS Recovers $228 Million From Frauds, FEMA Needs to Turn More Policies Into Plans, Says GAO, US-VISIT Tests Biometrics on Travelers Departing the U.S., DHS Scrutinizes Service Contracts, DHS Adds to Fire Station and Port and Transit Security Grants, DHS Names Key Cybersecurity Personnel, Katrina Victims Get to Buy Their FEMA Trailers, White House Issues Cybersecurity Review, GPO Posts Nuclear Site List, Judge Puts Bagram Cases on Hold, Judge Denies Telecom Eavesdropping Lawsuits, Nuclear Forensics Needs Interagency Plan, Says GAO, CIA Pushes Language Proficiency, New Homeland Security Research Briefs, U.S. Still Not Ready for Pandemic Flu, Says GAO, Targeted New York Synagogues Get Security Money, Brownsville, TX, and Strikes Deal on Mexican Border Fence". Educational opportunities include the ongoing National Defense University Foundation and National Defense Industrial Association Seminars (Washington, DC), the Third Annual Conference on Coordinated School and College Safety and Security, Northern Border Highway Carrier Conference, and the 2009 Homeland Security Conference.

  Homeland Security Studies and Analysis Institute

  2009-06-05
• Pandemic Flu: Swine Flu

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  "There is a potential pandemic threat from the Swine Flu Virus, which is also known as the H1N1 Influenza Virus. Swine Flu is a respiratory disease normally found in pigs; however the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed that the H1N1 virus is spreading from human to human. An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which there is little or no immunity in the human population. The symptoms for Swine Flu are similar to the seasonal flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills and fatigue. Health professionals are concerned about the possibility that this virus could cause an influenza pandemic for the following reasons: 1) It is a combination of human and swine influenza viruses never before seen. 2) The age group most affected is healthy, young adults usually under 25 (unlike seasonal flu). 3) Pregnant women are at increased risk of complications. 4) Many people have no immunity to the flu produced by the virus. 5) Deaths seem to be occurring in people with underlying health conditions that existed before the onset of the infection. 6) Like other influenza viruses, it continues to evolve."

  United States. Congress. Office of Compliance

  2009-06
• Indiana State Department of Health Pandemic Influenza Operations Plan [2009]

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  "An influenza pandemic is expected to occur about once every 30 years. Pandemics can cause a large portion of the population to become ill with widespread overload of the healthcare system and possible disruption of basic infrastructure services (such as delivery of food to grocery stores). […] This document forms the core of the Indiana State Department of Health Pandemic Influenza Plan. It is intended to provide a brief outline of the plan so that a reader can quickly obtain an overview. Details will be provided in annexes to this plan so that readers may quickly move to the parts of the plan that are of immediate concern. This provides a format in which each individual/unit/group/agency can work with an annex of manageable size while having access to the entire plan when needed."

  Indiana. State Department of Health

  Monroe, Judith A.

  2009-06
• Arizona State 9-1-1 & Public Safety Answering Point Pandemic Influenza Plan

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  "Arizona recognizes that emergency medical services (EMS) will likely be overwhelmed during an influenza pandemic and has developed this Arizona State 9-1-1 and Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan to address the associated call center demands. The goal of this plan is to provide a framework for Arizona's statewide EMS system to optimize the delivery of emergency care and 9-1-1 services and to ensure that the role of PSAPs in preparing for, mitigating, and responding to a pandemic influenza is well defined."

  Arizona. Department of Health Services

  2009-06
• Use of the Defense Production Act to Reduce Interruption in Critical Infrastructure and Key Resource Operations During Emergencies, Fiscal Year 2009 Report to Congress

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  "This is the second annual report to Congress on actions taken by the Federal Government, using the priorities and allocations authority provided in Section 101 of the Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA), to ensure the preparedness of industry to reduce interruption of critical infrastructure and key resource (CIKR) operations under emergency conditions. This report was prepared in accordance with Subsection 1 002(b) of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/ 11 Commission Act of2007 (Public Law 110-53). The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) developed this report in cooperation with the Departments of Agriculture (USDA), Commerce (DOC), Defense (DOD), Energy (DOE), and Transportation (DOT). Section 101 authorizes the President to require acceptance and priority performance of contracts or orders and to allocate materials, services, and facilities to promote the national defense or to maximize domestic energy supplies. Executive Order (E.O.) 12919 delegates the President's priorities and allocations authorities to USDA, DOC, DOD, DOE, Health and Human Services, and DOT with respect to resources within each of these departments' jurisdictions. It provides that the priorities and allocations authorities may only be used for programs that have been determined to be 'necessary or appropriate to promote the national defense' by DOD (for military and space programs), DOE (for energy resources), or DHS (for essential civilian needs). E.O. 12919 also directs DOC to administer the Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS), which provides guidance and procedures for the acceptance and preferential performance of contracts or orders for resources within DOC's jurisdiction, pursuant to E.O. 1291 9's delegation to DOC."

  United States. Federal Emergency Management Agency; United States. Department of Homeland Security

  2009-05-15
• Quarantine and Isolation: Selected Legal Issues Relating to Employment [May 11, 2009]

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  "Recent human cases of infection with a novel influenza A (H1N1) virus have been identified both internationally and in the United States. There has been human to human transmission and the new virus has the potential to become pandemic. The emergence of this virus, in addition to other potential pandemic threats such as the avian influenza A (H5N1) virus, has given rise to issues relating to the use of quarantine and isolation. Questions relating to employment are among the most significant issues since if individuals fear losing their employment or their wages, compliance with public health measures such as isolation or quarantine may suffer. Although the common law doctrine of employment-at-will, which allows an employer to terminate an employee from employment for any reason other than those prohibited by statute, is generally applicable, there is an exception to this doctrine for public policy reasons. This report will examine the employment-at-will doctrine, possible application of the public policy exception in the case of a potential influenza pandemic, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and possible application of the nondiscrimination mandates of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Shimabukuro, Jon O.; Jones, Nancy Lee

  2009-05-11
• 2009 Influenza A(H1N1) 'Swine Flu' Outbreak: An Overview [May 5, 2009]

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  "On April 29, 2009, in response to the global spread of a new strain of influenza, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its influenza ("flu") pandemic alert level to Phase 5, one level below declaring that a global influenza pandemic was underway. According to WHO, "the declaration of Phase 5 is a strong signal that a pandemic is imminent and that the time to finalize the organization, communication, and implementation of the planned mitigation measures is short. […] This report provides an overview of key actions taken and authorities invoked by WHO and the U.S. government. First, it discusses the WHO process to determine the phase of a threatened or emerging flu pandemic and touches on a number of related issues. The report then examines actions taken by the Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services and provides information about appropriations and funding for pandemic flu activities. Finally, the report summarizes U.S. government pandemic flu planning documents and lists sources for additional information about the situation as it unfolds. This report will be continually updated to reflect unfolding events."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Lister, Sarah A.; Redhead, C. Stephen

  2009-05-05
• Banking and Financial Infrastructure Continuity: Pandemic Flu, Terrorism, and Other Challenges [May 4, 2009]

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  "This report outlines the financial sector's recovery plans for two kinds of disasters: the inability to conduct transactions and large losses of asset value. The basic function of the payment system is carried out by banks, and monetary policy affects banks immediately. Because brokers, exchanges, secondary market facilities, and insurance companies carry out crucial financial functions, their regulators and trade associations are involved in continuity of operations planning for contingencies ranging from pandemic flu to terrorist attacks. Regulators of financial entities have developed guidelines for regulatees to follow to cushion physical and economic shocks. There are procedures to protect business information technology, physical security, and for the continuity of markets critical for the nation's transactions. Government and private sector initiatives seek cost-effective ways to strengthen the resiliency of the financial system's computers against cyber attacks. Many of these arrangements protecting financial institutions against attacks are also part of the national effort to prevent terrorist financing from within the financial system. […]. Defense of financial businesses' information systems also helps to deter national threats. Following September 11, 2001, the nation became concerned with physical security. The anthrax attack in October 2001 heightened worries about biological terrorism. In 2004, the possibility of an avian flu pandemic concentrated continuity concerns on natural occurring challenges to the smooth functioning of the nation's financial system. More recently in 2009, concerns have arisen related to A/H1N1 ('swine') flu. Congress, regulators, and executive branch agencies have responded to each of these threats."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Weiss, N. Eric

  2009-05-04
• Government of Saint Lucia: National Influenza Plan, Volume 6: Ministry of Education Reporting Plan for Schools

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  This document from the government of Saint Lucia provides a list of actions "schools should take before, during and after a pandemic flu outbreak. Pandemic flu can have several cycles or waves so this list may need to be repeated."

  Saint Lucia

  2009-05-01
• What Employers Can Do to Protect Workers from Pandemic Influenza

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  "During an influenza pandemic, transmission of the pandemic virus can be anticipated in the workplace, not only from patients to workers in healthcare settings, but also from customers and coworkers in general work settings. Employers can use a set of occupational safety and health controls referred to as the 'hierarchy of controls' to reduce exposures to pandemic influenza in their workplaces. The types of control measures, listed from most effective to least effective, that may be used to protect yourself, your workers and your customers are: 1. Engineering controls; 2. Administrative controls; 3. Work practices; and 4. Personal protective equipment (PPE)."

  United States. Occupational Safety and Health Administration

  2009-05
• Swine Flu': Lessons in Pandemic Preparedness from the Financial Industry

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  This US financial services study indicates that most enterprises may not have planned adequately for an international influenza outbreak. The study provides preparedness guidance that can be applied in any industry or region.

  Gartner, Inc.

  De Lotto, Richard J.; McGee, Ken; Witty, Roberta J.

  2009-05-01
• Fact Sheet: Isolation and Quarantine, May 1, 2009

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  This fact sheet, created by the Iowa Department of Public Health, addresses the strategies of isolation and quarantine in response to a public health disaster. "To contain the spread of a contagious illness, public health authorities rely on many strategies. Two of these strategies are isolation and quarantine. Both are common practices in public health, and both aim to control exposure to infected or potentially infected persons. Both may be undertaken voluntarily or required by public health authorities. The two strategies differ in that isolation applies to persons who are known to have an illness, and quarantine applies to those who have been exposed to a person who is ill but who may or may not become ill."

  Iowa. Department of Public Health

  2009-05-01
• Planning for Pandemic Influenza: Human Resources Information for Agencies and Departments

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  "The Guide was initially developed in 2006 in coordination with the Emergency Preparedness Subcommittee of the Chief Human Capital Officers Council, including representatives from the Departments of Agriculture, Defense, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Labor, State, and Transportation, and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. While the Guide has been prepared specifically with the possibility of a pandemic influenza in mind, most of the information is equally applicable in other pandemic health crisis situations as well as in many other emergency situations. [...] This Guide also includes a revised and updated section on telework and a collection of specific examples of 'Human Resources Strategies' offered by Federal departments and agencies. Also included are numerous links to information and resources related to pandemic influenza. Finally, the Guide establishes a process for collecting workforce data during a pandemic influenza episode. [...] The Guide is designed to help Federal departments and agencies achieve two equally important goals--(1) protecting the Federal workforce and (2) ensuring the continuity of operations. These goals are not mutually exclusive. The message to the American people should be they can have confidence in the ability and determination of the Federal Government to carry out its mission, especially in an emergency."

  United States. Office of Personnel Management

  2009-05