TheFluMaster
Resident
Flu-crisis readiness looks 'overwhelming'
By Paul Davenport
The Associated Press
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.19.2006
Phoenix - The top public-health official for the home of six of every 10 Arizonans doesn't mince words regarding readiness for a flu pandemic and its possible human devastation.
Dr. Bob England said he thinks he scares "the hell out of a lot of people" when he talks to community groups.
"It's an overwhelming set of issues to deal with here, and we've come a long ways in terms of recognizing our issues, doing some planning, setting up some initial processes and procedures. But ... we have a very long way to go," said England, head of the Maricopa County Public Health Department.
The virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu has killed 153 people worldwide, mostly in Asia, according to figures compiled by the World Health Organization.
Most of the human deaths from bird flu have been linked to close contact with infected birds, but experts fear the virus could mutate into a form easily spread from person to person and spark a worldwide pandemic that could kill thousands or even millions of people.
Those fears have spurred federal, state and local government officials to step up efforts to be prepared in case a pandemic hits the U.S., leading to a scourge like the Spanish flu outbreak in 1918 or, more optimistically, a milder version such as those seen in 1957 and 1968.
In Maricopa, plans are incomplete and even the plan segments already written must be considered drafts because of the many unknowns. Federal funding has been herky-jerky. Flu-focused drills have largely focused on tabletop exercises that don't involve practicing mass immunizations or other boots-on-the-ground work.
Meanwhile, some supplies and essential gear have been acquired, but other purchases must await needs assessments.
"We're trying to get a better handle on how much we actually need and how much we can store. Some supplies, not just medications, have shelf lives and you've got to figure out how to rotate through," England said.
Maricopa County's situation isn't unique among Arizona's 15 counties, whose readiness varies widely, but it is one of the most daunting because of the county's population of 3.6 million, said Will Humble, a deputy assistant director of the state Department of Health Services who oversees public-health preparedness statewide.
"You've got this enormous task, and you're in a county that's bigger than many states," Humble said.
The state earlier this year completed a sweeping revision of its pandemic-readiness plan, and Humble said efforts are now focused on the county level.
"What we want to have is the county health departments make their specific plans and, more important than that, to test the key elements of those plans," he said.
England said some problems facing his county will have to be tackled with workarounds.
For example, because the Phoenix area's hospitals and clinics typically are jammed during cold and flu season, the situation would worsen during a pandemic because sick people ? even some with regular flu ? would be scared and go to the health facilities, England said.
"We have to set up some kind of system for checking on folks (at home by telephone) and weeding out the people who really need to come in," he said.
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/156735
By Paul Davenport
The Associated Press
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 11.19.2006
Phoenix - The top public-health official for the home of six of every 10 Arizonans doesn't mince words regarding readiness for a flu pandemic and its possible human devastation.
Dr. Bob England said he thinks he scares "the hell out of a lot of people" when he talks to community groups.
"It's an overwhelming set of issues to deal with here, and we've come a long ways in terms of recognizing our issues, doing some planning, setting up some initial processes and procedures. But ... we have a very long way to go," said England, head of the Maricopa County Public Health Department.
The virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu has killed 153 people worldwide, mostly in Asia, according to figures compiled by the World Health Organization.
Most of the human deaths from bird flu have been linked to close contact with infected birds, but experts fear the virus could mutate into a form easily spread from person to person and spark a worldwide pandemic that could kill thousands or even millions of people.
Those fears have spurred federal, state and local government officials to step up efforts to be prepared in case a pandemic hits the U.S., leading to a scourge like the Spanish flu outbreak in 1918 or, more optimistically, a milder version such as those seen in 1957 and 1968.
In Maricopa, plans are incomplete and even the plan segments already written must be considered drafts because of the many unknowns. Federal funding has been herky-jerky. Flu-focused drills have largely focused on tabletop exercises that don't involve practicing mass immunizations or other boots-on-the-ground work.
Meanwhile, some supplies and essential gear have been acquired, but other purchases must await needs assessments.
"We're trying to get a better handle on how much we actually need and how much we can store. Some supplies, not just medications, have shelf lives and you've got to figure out how to rotate through," England said.
Maricopa County's situation isn't unique among Arizona's 15 counties, whose readiness varies widely, but it is one of the most daunting because of the county's population of 3.6 million, said Will Humble, a deputy assistant director of the state Department of Health Services who oversees public-health preparedness statewide.
"You've got this enormous task, and you're in a county that's bigger than many states," Humble said.
The state earlier this year completed a sweeping revision of its pandemic-readiness plan, and Humble said efforts are now focused on the county level.
"What we want to have is the county health departments make their specific plans and, more important than that, to test the key elements of those plans," he said.
England said some problems facing his county will have to be tackled with workarounds.
For example, because the Phoenix area's hospitals and clinics typically are jammed during cold and flu season, the situation would worsen during a pandemic because sick people ? even some with regular flu ? would be scared and go to the health facilities, England said.
"We have to set up some kind of system for checking on folks (at home by telephone) and weeding out the people who really need to come in," he said.
http://www.azstarnet.com/allheadlines/156735