Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://newswire.ascribe.org/cgi-bin...0625.120804&time=09 00 PDT&year=2008&public=0
Mon Jun 30 09:00:01 2008 Pacific Time
State and Territorial Health Officials Take Critical Steps to Protect Vulnerable Populations; Association Releases Pandemic Preparedness Guidance
ARLINGTON, Va., June 30 (AScribe Newswire) -- The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) released national guidance today on protecting at-risk populations during one of the worst public health catastrophes imaginable - an influenza pandemic.
"ASTHO has provided specific recommendations through this guidance that will increase the overall preparedness levels of each community and help to protect the most vulnerable people in America," said ASTHO President Dr. David Sundwall, Executive Director, Utah Department of Health.
"It is particularly important to plan for protecting at-risk populations during an influenza pandemic because disasters discriminate," said John Auerbach, Advisory Panel Chair and Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. "We hope this guidance will help safeguard the most vulnerable people in America by incorporating the perspectives of at-risk population members, the people who care for them, and the people who plan for their care."
The guidance was developed through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and incorporates expertise from an advisory panel of national experts that includes the at-risk populations who would be affected, as well as from public health planners and other experts who will have responsibility for implementing the policies. The guidance also includes recommendations and suggestions received from the public-at-large during a comment period in April. Additional assistance was provided by the Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy at the University of Minnesota, the National Association of County and City Health Officials, and The Keystone Center.
Later this year, the CDC will provide detailed information on protecting 11 specific at-risk population groups, which will be included as appendices.
Pandemic influenza is a worldwide outbreak of a new flu virus, one for which people have little or no built up immunity. A severe flu pandemic has the potential to last longer, make people sicker, and cause more deaths than any other health crisis of our time. Currently, there is no human influenza pandemic. Planners are preparing now to limit illness and death, and to ensure the functioning of government, business, and civil society.
Copies of the guidance can be obtained at
http://www.astho.org .
ASTHO CONTACT: Paula Steib, 571-527-3173
The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) is the national nonprofit organization representing the state and territorial public health agencies of the United States, the U.S. Territories, and the District of Columbia. ASTHO's members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, are dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy, and to assuring excellence in state-based public health practice.
Media Contact: See above.
Mon Jun 30 09:00:01 2008 Pacific Time
State and Territorial Health Officials Take Critical Steps to Protect Vulnerable Populations; Association Releases Pandemic Preparedness Guidance
ARLINGTON, Va., June 30 (AScribe Newswire) -- The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) released national guidance today on protecting at-risk populations during one of the worst public health catastrophes imaginable - an influenza pandemic.
"ASTHO has provided specific recommendations through this guidance that will increase the overall preparedness levels of each community and help to protect the most vulnerable people in America," said ASTHO President Dr. David Sundwall, Executive Director, Utah Department of Health.
"It is particularly important to plan for protecting at-risk populations during an influenza pandemic because disasters discriminate," said John Auerbach, Advisory Panel Chair and Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. "We hope this guidance will help safeguard the most vulnerable people in America by incorporating the perspectives of at-risk population members, the people who care for them, and the people who plan for their care."
The guidance was developed through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and incorporates expertise from an advisory panel of national experts that includes the at-risk populations who would be affected, as well as from public health planners and other experts who will have responsibility for implementing the policies. The guidance also includes recommendations and suggestions received from the public-at-large during a comment period in April. Additional assistance was provided by the Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy at the University of Minnesota, the National Association of County and City Health Officials, and The Keystone Center.
Later this year, the CDC will provide detailed information on protecting 11 specific at-risk population groups, which will be included as appendices.
Pandemic influenza is a worldwide outbreak of a new flu virus, one for which people have little or no built up immunity. A severe flu pandemic has the potential to last longer, make people sicker, and cause more deaths than any other health crisis of our time. Currently, there is no human influenza pandemic. Planners are preparing now to limit illness and death, and to ensure the functioning of government, business, and civil society.
Copies of the guidance can be obtained at
http://www.astho.org .
ASTHO CONTACT: Paula Steib, 571-527-3173
The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) is the national nonprofit organization representing the state and territorial public health agencies of the United States, the U.S. Territories, and the District of Columbia. ASTHO's members, the chief health officials of these jurisdictions, are dedicated to formulating and influencing sound public health policy, and to assuring excellence in state-based public health practice.
Media Contact: See above.