U.S. Issues One Year Summary of Nation's Pandemic Flu Plan

Government Says Pandemic Will Eventually Occur

Last week, the Homeland Security Council, a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, issued the "National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza Implementation Plan One Year Summary." The "Summary" gives an overview of what the collaborated efforts of several federal government departments and agencies have accomplished in the past year to prepare the country for an influenza pandemic.

The report states that, although the media no longer reports much on the avian influenza and the need to prepare for a pandemic, it remains a certainty that a pandemic of some kind will eventually occur, and vigilance is still important. It's emphasized that the country must not become complacent and must continue to take the threat of a pandemic very seriously. The "Summary" specifically states that "the stakes are high, and our greatest enemy is complacency."

According to the "Summary," the threat of H5N1 (avian or bird flu) has been reduced in the past year by containing outbreaks at their source and quickly diagnosing any human cases of the disease. During this time, the United States, along with the World Health Organization and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, has investigated avian flu incidents on three continents and provided assistance and support of various kinds to 39 of the 60 countries and jurisdictions where avian flu has had an affect. As a result of this combined effort, a pandemic virus has yet to emerge.

As a result of the government's investment in stockpiling anti-viral medications, personal protective equipment and decontamination kits, the United States now has enough anti-viral medications stockpiled to treat nearly 50 million people. Should a pandemic occur elsewhere and containment efforts fail, the federal government has a plan in place to slow entry of the virus into the U.S., while still allowing goods and services to enter the country unabated.