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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="99%" border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD>Preparing for a Flu Pandemic </TD></TR><TR><TD>Saturday October 27, 2007 4:44pm</B> Reporter: Manuel Quinones Posted By: Amy Hultstrand </TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top align=middle>
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>?Watch the eVideo
<!-- CHECK TEXT--><!-- new-->Campbell Co., VA - As we get closer to cold and flu season, emergency workers and state and local leaders prepare for the worst-- a widespread flu pandemic. If it happened here, would our area be prepared?
What better way to find out than to put yourself in the situation. That's exactly what officials did Saturday. Many of us get the flu every year. That is nothing new. What we're talking about is a possible new strain. It can be dangerous and deadly.
Dr. Katherine Nichols, Central Virginia Health District - It could be an emergency, a major public health emergency should we have that kind of illness."
So, officials came up with a scenario. A musical group travels to <NOTHERXML prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1:PLACE w:st="on"><ST1:PLACENAME w:st="on">Campbell</ST1:PLACENAME> <ST1:PLACETYPE w:st="on">County</ST1:PLACETYPE></ST1:PLACE> from abroad soon people start getting sick. What would happen?
Jack Jones, Jr., <ST1:PLACE w:st="on"><ST1:PLACENAME w:st="on">Bedford</ST1:PLACENAME> <ST1:PLACETYPE w:st="on">County</ST1:PLACETYPE></ST1:PLACE> - "The funeral home industry is represented. And some of the things they are being taxed with is what do we do and how quickly they can process the remains and appropriately manage people who are deceased."
That's the point of this exercise-- bringing together people who may not usually always work together.
Jones - "As emergency managers, we meet all the time. But to bring all of our bosses and partners and all the officials it's really great."
Nichols - "Whenever you get this sort of regional cooperation, it does make us safer."
That's because you need community leaders and emergency crews on the same page. If hundreds, maybe thousands of people get sick at once it could hurt the workforce, shut down schools and strain hospitals.
Jones - "This is going to allow our citizens to be comforted in knowing that during the flu season, their responders and their government will function at a higher level."
It's a scenario folks here hope never happens, but they are more prepared if it does. Emergency workers want to encourage you to be ready, and that includes having a 72 hour supply of clean water, nonperishable food, medications, pet food, flashlights, a battery powered radio and extra batteries.
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http://new.wset.com/news/stories/1007/467515.html
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=1 width=210 align=right bgColor=#e3e3e3 border=0 valign="top"><TBODY><TR vAlign=center><TD></TD></TR><TR bgColor=#e3e3e3><TD align=middle></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=128 align=left border=0 valign="top"><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>?Watch the eVideo<!-- CHECK TEXT--><!-- new-->Campbell Co., VA - As we get closer to cold and flu season, emergency workers and state and local leaders prepare for the worst-- a widespread flu pandemic. If it happened here, would our area be prepared?
What better way to find out than to put yourself in the situation. That's exactly what officials did Saturday. Many of us get the flu every year. That is nothing new. What we're talking about is a possible new strain. It can be dangerous and deadly.
Dr. Katherine Nichols, Central Virginia Health District - It could be an emergency, a major public health emergency should we have that kind of illness."
So, officials came up with a scenario. A musical group travels to <NOTHERXML prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST1 /><ST1:PLACE w:st="on"><ST1:PLACENAME w:st="on">Campbell</ST1:PLACENAME> <ST1:PLACETYPE w:st="on">County</ST1:PLACETYPE></ST1:PLACE> from abroad soon people start getting sick. What would happen?
Jack Jones, Jr., <ST1:PLACE w:st="on"><ST1:PLACENAME w:st="on">Bedford</ST1:PLACENAME> <ST1:PLACETYPE w:st="on">County</ST1:PLACETYPE></ST1:PLACE> - "The funeral home industry is represented. And some of the things they are being taxed with is what do we do and how quickly they can process the remains and appropriately manage people who are deceased."
That's the point of this exercise-- bringing together people who may not usually always work together.
Jones - "As emergency managers, we meet all the time. But to bring all of our bosses and partners and all the officials it's really great."
Nichols - "Whenever you get this sort of regional cooperation, it does make us safer."
That's because you need community leaders and emergency crews on the same page. If hundreds, maybe thousands of people get sick at once it could hurt the workforce, shut down schools and strain hospitals.
Jones - "This is going to allow our citizens to be comforted in knowing that during the flu season, their responders and their government will function at a higher level."
It's a scenario folks here hope never happens, but they are more prepared if it does. Emergency workers want to encourage you to be ready, and that includes having a 72 hour supply of clean water, nonperishable food, medications, pet food, flashlights, a battery powered radio and extra batteries.
</B></STRONG></B></STRONG>http://new.wset.com/news/stories/1007/467515.html
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