Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.wfsb.com/health/17703501/detail.html#-
State Given Cash In Case Of Flu Pandemic
Grant Focuses On Special Needs Citizens, Rell Says
POSTED: 12:19 pm EDT October 13, 2008
UPDATED: 12:26 pm EDT October 13, 2008
HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Connecticut Department of Public Health has been awarded $370,000 to aid those with special needs in the event of an influenza pandemic, Gov. Jodi Rell said Monday.
The award was given by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.
"This award will help us to continue to strengthen our state's regional response to those with special needs in the event of an influenza pandemic," Rell said. "People with special needs are one of our major focuses of concern when planning for an emergency or a public health event. This additional funding will allow us to build networks and provide necessary training to reach out to our most vulnerable populations."
Connecticut was one of 29 states and local health departments awarded additional funding by the CDC through a competitive grant process, she said.
Through the grant, Rell said, the state plans to develop an inclusive database with the integration of service providers, strengthen the state's regional response capacity and develop a replicable model for a uniform statewide outreach network for service providers working with vulnerable populations with special needs.
Pandemic influenza is a worldwide outbreak of a strain of flu virus that people have not been previously exposed to, resulting in little or no immunity. In a pandemic, hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. could become very ill, and many could die. Federal, state and local officials have been working to prepare for a pandemic and urge individuals to prepare as well.
For more information on pandemic influenza, call DPH at 860-509-7270.
State Given Cash In Case Of Flu Pandemic
Grant Focuses On Special Needs Citizens, Rell Says
POSTED: 12:19 pm EDT October 13, 2008
UPDATED: 12:26 pm EDT October 13, 2008
HARTFORD, Conn. -- The Connecticut Department of Public Health has been awarded $370,000 to aid those with special needs in the event of an influenza pandemic, Gov. Jodi Rell said Monday.
The award was given by the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.
"This award will help us to continue to strengthen our state's regional response to those with special needs in the event of an influenza pandemic," Rell said. "People with special needs are one of our major focuses of concern when planning for an emergency or a public health event. This additional funding will allow us to build networks and provide necessary training to reach out to our most vulnerable populations."
Connecticut was one of 29 states and local health departments awarded additional funding by the CDC through a competitive grant process, she said.
Through the grant, Rell said, the state plans to develop an inclusive database with the integration of service providers, strengthen the state's regional response capacity and develop a replicable model for a uniform statewide outreach network for service providers working with vulnerable populations with special needs.
Pandemic influenza is a worldwide outbreak of a strain of flu virus that people have not been previously exposed to, resulting in little or no immunity. In a pandemic, hundreds of thousands of people in the U.S. could become very ill, and many could die. Federal, state and local officials have been working to prepare for a pandemic and urge individuals to prepare as well.
For more information on pandemic influenza, call DPH at 860-509-7270.