TheFluMaster
Resident
Arizona officials prepared for pandemic flu
Erica Heartquist Reports
Feb 10, 2006, 06:38 AM MST
Are we prepared for a pandemic flu to hit the state? State Health officials say yes, and they have a plan.
A revised version of the “Arizona Influenza Pandemic Response Plan” was released on Monday. The plan was originally crafted in 2000, but state health officials say they needed a better one.
Health officials say it will be what we'll all have to turn to should there be a state-wide flu pandemic.
The plan is more than 300 pages long and the details include who does what on a state level as well as what you can do to prepare.
"A flu pandemic is when it really gets widespread worldwide and that's what we're talking about- the type of influenza that would be easily transmitted between our population," says Robert Guerrero from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
How likely is it that there will be a pandemic flu here in Arizona?
Guerrero says, very. "Health officials feel that a pandemic flu is likely to occur and no one's calling the avian flu the next pandemic, but we know that, sooner or later, something is going to happen. So, we need to be prepared."
There could be a delay in getting the vaccines, should there be a pandemic flu, because we all don't have a natural immunity built up for a pandemic flu.
Experts say don't expect to have seasonal flu vaccines available. They say, because the seasonal flu vaccines will not work, it could take at least six months before a vaccine is created to fight a pandemic flu.
Governor Janet Napolitano was in Tucson Tuesday and took questions from the media. Eyewitness News 4 asked her about the possibility of a pandemic flu outbreak.
"It's somewhat unpredictable, so you have to plan," Napolitano said.
The governor said each business and organization also needs to have a back-up plan.
"Let's hypothesize that you are in charge of a school district and we have a pandemic and half of your teachers aren't there. How are you going to manage?", the governor asked.
According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, news about the avian flu helped spark the question, "Are we prepared?"
With the revised plan, now they say they are.
"I would say that Arizona is ready," said Guerrero.
If you want to know more about what you can do to prepare, visit www.PandemicFlu.gov and www.azdhs.gov/pandemicflu/ .
http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=4471567&nav=menu216_2
Erica Heartquist Reports
Feb 10, 2006, 06:38 AM MST
Are we prepared for a pandemic flu to hit the state? State Health officials say yes, and they have a plan.
A revised version of the “Arizona Influenza Pandemic Response Plan” was released on Monday. The plan was originally crafted in 2000, but state health officials say they needed a better one.
Health officials say it will be what we'll all have to turn to should there be a state-wide flu pandemic.
The plan is more than 300 pages long and the details include who does what on a state level as well as what you can do to prepare.
"A flu pandemic is when it really gets widespread worldwide and that's what we're talking about- the type of influenza that would be easily transmitted between our population," says Robert Guerrero from the Arizona Department of Health Services.
How likely is it that there will be a pandemic flu here in Arizona?
Guerrero says, very. "Health officials feel that a pandemic flu is likely to occur and no one's calling the avian flu the next pandemic, but we know that, sooner or later, something is going to happen. So, we need to be prepared."
There could be a delay in getting the vaccines, should there be a pandemic flu, because we all don't have a natural immunity built up for a pandemic flu.
Experts say don't expect to have seasonal flu vaccines available. They say, because the seasonal flu vaccines will not work, it could take at least six months before a vaccine is created to fight a pandemic flu.
Governor Janet Napolitano was in Tucson Tuesday and took questions from the media. Eyewitness News 4 asked her about the possibility of a pandemic flu outbreak.
"It's somewhat unpredictable, so you have to plan," Napolitano said.
The governor said each business and organization also needs to have a back-up plan.
"Let's hypothesize that you are in charge of a school district and we have a pandemic and half of your teachers aren't there. How are you going to manage?", the governor asked.
According to the Arizona Department of Health Services, news about the avian flu helped spark the question, "Are we prepared?"
With the revised plan, now they say they are.
"I would say that Arizona is ready," said Guerrero.
If you want to know more about what you can do to prepare, visit www.PandemicFlu.gov and www.azdhs.gov/pandemicflu/ .
http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=4471567&nav=menu216_2