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Source: http://www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=93882
6/1/2008
Last Update: 5/31/2008 11:34:00 PM
Berks County prepares for flu epidemic
It?s inevitable, one county official says, adding that readiness will prevent a worst-case scenario.
By F?lix Alfonso Pe?a
Reading Eagle
Berks County, PA - For Americans accustomed to health care on demand, dealing with a flu pandemic would resemble a nightmare.
Hospitals and doctors? offices could quickly become overwhelmed or close, and public services could be stressed to the limit.
The Berks County Pandemic Advisory Council doesn?t want residents to fear this worst-case scenario.
It wants people to be prepared for what Berks County Emergency Management coordinator Brian A. Gottschall calls an inevitability.
"The World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control have made it clear: It?s not a matter of if, it?s a matter of when, " Gottschall said.
Created in 2007, the advisory council seeks to raise community awareness about pandemic disease and improve overall preparedness.
On Monday, the council will formally announce a new Web site, www.FluToolBox.com, where users can find expert advice on what to expect and how to cope with a flu pandemic.
Council members believe the Web site, sponsored in conjunction with the Berks County Emergency Management Agency, will enable the community to stay informed before and during a pandemic.
Vee Vee Scott, advisory council co-chairwoman, credited Louise Grim, Alvernia College professor emeritus, with forming the council in July 2007.
Grim, also a co-chairwoman, was the impetus in bringing together people in the community.
Among the more than 40 council members are the county commissioners, Reading Mayor Tom McMahon, county Coroner Dennis J. Hess and Berks County Red Cross director Adrian Grieve.
"We?re trying to create a one-stop portal with stuff that is specific to Berks County, and tell people where they can go for other information," Gottschall said.
To assist the effort, Grim found a ready resource in Alvernia?s Center of Community Engagement.
"This is the kind of work that the Center for Community Engagement is trying to do, to get students out of the classroom and into the community," said Ginny Hand, director of the center.
Dr. Jodi Radosh, an associate professor of communications at Alvernia, got marketing and public relations students involved in designing stationery and creating media kits.
Michael Nerino, assistant professor of computer information systems, supervised a student who designed the council?s Web site.
The work by Alvernia students was done at no cost, and the county is hosting the Web site on its system.
Gottschall praised the advisory council?s work.
"They?re not being paid to do this," he said. "They?ve devoted themselves to developing a network of people.
"They set the torch ablaze. Now the community has to carry it."
?Contact F?lix Alfonso Pe?a at 610-371-5037 or apena@readingeagle.com.
Insert:
Learn more
The Berks County Pandemic Advisory Council Web site, www.FluToolBox.com, officially launches Monday.
The site provides information from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and other sources.
Topics include what to have on hand, what to expect, how to defend against contracting the flu, and why a pandemic is expected.
Source: Berks County Pandemic Advisory Counci
6/1/2008
Last Update: 5/31/2008 11:34:00 PM
Berks County prepares for flu epidemic
It?s inevitable, one county official says, adding that readiness will prevent a worst-case scenario.
By F?lix Alfonso Pe?a
Reading Eagle
Berks County, PA - For Americans accustomed to health care on demand, dealing with a flu pandemic would resemble a nightmare.
Hospitals and doctors? offices could quickly become overwhelmed or close, and public services could be stressed to the limit.
The Berks County Pandemic Advisory Council doesn?t want residents to fear this worst-case scenario.
It wants people to be prepared for what Berks County Emergency Management coordinator Brian A. Gottschall calls an inevitability.
"The World Health Organization and the Center for Disease Control have made it clear: It?s not a matter of if, it?s a matter of when, " Gottschall said.
Created in 2007, the advisory council seeks to raise community awareness about pandemic disease and improve overall preparedness.
On Monday, the council will formally announce a new Web site, www.FluToolBox.com, where users can find expert advice on what to expect and how to cope with a flu pandemic.
Council members believe the Web site, sponsored in conjunction with the Berks County Emergency Management Agency, will enable the community to stay informed before and during a pandemic.
Vee Vee Scott, advisory council co-chairwoman, credited Louise Grim, Alvernia College professor emeritus, with forming the council in July 2007.
Grim, also a co-chairwoman, was the impetus in bringing together people in the community.
Among the more than 40 council members are the county commissioners, Reading Mayor Tom McMahon, county Coroner Dennis J. Hess and Berks County Red Cross director Adrian Grieve.
"We?re trying to create a one-stop portal with stuff that is specific to Berks County, and tell people where they can go for other information," Gottschall said.
To assist the effort, Grim found a ready resource in Alvernia?s Center of Community Engagement.
"This is the kind of work that the Center for Community Engagement is trying to do, to get students out of the classroom and into the community," said Ginny Hand, director of the center.
Dr. Jodi Radosh, an associate professor of communications at Alvernia, got marketing and public relations students involved in designing stationery and creating media kits.
Michael Nerino, assistant professor of computer information systems, supervised a student who designed the council?s Web site.
The work by Alvernia students was done at no cost, and the county is hosting the Web site on its system.
Gottschall praised the advisory council?s work.
"They?re not being paid to do this," he said. "They?ve devoted themselves to developing a network of people.
"They set the torch ablaze. Now the community has to carry it."
?Contact F?lix Alfonso Pe?a at 610-371-5037 or apena@readingeagle.com.
Insert:
Learn more
The Berks County Pandemic Advisory Council Web site, www.FluToolBox.com, officially launches Monday.
The site provides information from the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and other sources.
Topics include what to have on hand, what to expect, how to defend against contracting the flu, and why a pandemic is expected.
Source: Berks County Pandemic Advisory Counci