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February 22, 2006 Federal, State and Local Leaders Prepare for Potential Influenza Pandemic BIRMINGHAM – Acknowledging that pandemics happen and require a strong local response, Governor Bob Riley and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt signed a resolution committing the state and federal governments to planning efforts. They did so before an audience of public health officials, business and community leaders gathered to address pandemic flu preparedness in Alabama. Secretary Leavitt is in Alabama as part of a national tour of states as the federal government prepares the country for a potential influenza pandemic.
“Pandemics are global in nature but their effects are always local, so I am pleased that Governor Riley is taking a leadership role to prepare Alabama for this threat,” Secretary Leavitt said. “Pandemic planning needs to address how schools, businesses, public agencies, faith-based organizations and others participate in pandemic preparedness. With this meeting, local officials can identify needs specific to Alabama communities and begin crucial coordination to assure readiness if a pandemic outbreak strikes.”
“If a flu pandemic arrives, our businesses, our schools and our families will be on the front lines of any effort to stop or contain it. All of us need to prepare and this summit is a part of Alabama’s proactive efforts to be prepared for any type of health or homeland security threat. We want to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to identify and secure all necessary resources to protect our citizens,” said Governor Riley.
In the planning resolution, HHS commits to providing guidance and technical assistance to Alabama, along with an initial amount of financial assistance for planning – $1,595,205. The federal agency also agrees to review the state’s plans for use, storage and distribution of antivirals and to notify the state of its portion of the federal stockpile of pandemic influenza antiviral drugs. Alabama agrees to assure that its operational plan for pandemic influenza response is an integral element of the overall state and local emergency response plan and to establish a Pandemic Preparedness Coordinating Committee representing all relevant stakeholders. The state will also notify HHS of the amount of additional pandemic influenza antiviral drugs it will plan to purchase and will exercise its preparedness plan within six months of today’s summit.
The event is Alabama’s first statewide gathering to address pandemic readiness planning, and will give a broad range of organizations an opportunity to participate in the process. Invited guests included first responders, business leaders, educators, health care providers, faith-based organizations, volunteer agencies and policy makers.
HHS has also prepared tools to help with each state’s planning process, including a state and local checklist, a business checklist, a guide for individuals and families, and a checklist for faith-based organizations. The guides were distributed at today’s summit.
More information on pandemic flu readiness is available at www.pandemicflu.gov. | |
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