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Source: http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/health/swine_flu/080509_State_health_officials_plan_for_pandemic
State health officials plan for flu pandemic
Updated: Wednesday, 05 Aug 2009, 9:03 PM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 05 Aug 2009, 9:03 PM EDT
* SHAY HARRIS | FOX 35 News
ORLANDO, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Florida's pandemic planners predict 5 million of the state's residents will come down with the, H1N1 virus, or Swine flu, in the next year.
Those numbers are based on past pandemics dating back to 1918, according to Orange County Health Department Spokesperson Dain Weister.
Health experts predictions translate to about 30 percent or more of the population.
"What the public needs to know is this is going to affect a lot of us. Iit already is," said Weister. "Come this fall, it's going to increase even more, because then well be in flu season," he added.
The Orlando Regional Medical Center spokesperson for Infection and Prevention, Scott Brown, said they have put a plan in place, first designed three years ago during the Asian flu pandemic.
"We have begun to look at our supply chain making sure that we're gonna have enough supplies to deal with larger numbers," said Brown.
He said they're also in daily contact with the Department of Health.
The strain of the flu should be taken seriously, but Weister said the public should not panic. He said the bottom line is that you should practice good hygiene.
"The Health Department is working with the school districts, working with the hospitals; we're planning for this school year, cause we do know that with school starting, a lot of kids being in class near one another and flu season, it's gonna spread."
State health officials plan for flu pandemic
Updated: Wednesday, 05 Aug 2009, 9:03 PM EDT
Published : Wednesday, 05 Aug 2009, 9:03 PM EDT
* SHAY HARRIS | FOX 35 News
ORLANDO, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - Florida's pandemic planners predict 5 million of the state's residents will come down with the, H1N1 virus, or Swine flu, in the next year.
Those numbers are based on past pandemics dating back to 1918, according to Orange County Health Department Spokesperson Dain Weister.
Health experts predictions translate to about 30 percent or more of the population.
"What the public needs to know is this is going to affect a lot of us. Iit already is," said Weister. "Come this fall, it's going to increase even more, because then well be in flu season," he added.
The Orlando Regional Medical Center spokesperson for Infection and Prevention, Scott Brown, said they have put a plan in place, first designed three years ago during the Asian flu pandemic.
"We have begun to look at our supply chain making sure that we're gonna have enough supplies to deal with larger numbers," said Brown.
He said they're also in daily contact with the Department of Health.
The strain of the flu should be taken seriously, but Weister said the public should not panic. He said the bottom line is that you should practice good hygiene.
"The Health Department is working with the school districts, working with the hospitals; we're planning for this school year, cause we do know that with school starting, a lot of kids being in class near one another and flu season, it's gonna spread."