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Source: http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1387668/pandemic_flu_plan_prepared/
Pandemic Flu Plan Prepared
Posted on: Thursday, 15 May 2008, 15:00 CDT
By Laura Nesbitt Mountain View Telegraph
Officials from the Partnership for a Healthy Torrance County are preparing for another type of potential disaster.
"Internationally there's a real concern about the possibility of pandemic flu. They're not talking about if, but when," said Linda Filippi, coordinator of the Mountainair High School health clinic.
A flu pandemic is a global outbreak that occurs when there is no immunity to a new virus, according to American Red Cross information.
An ARC informational film about a pandemic flu outbreak and how to be prepared was shown at the beginning of the partnership meeting on May 7.
"The virus that (the World Health Organization) is most concerned about right now is (avian flu) H5N1. (Although) it has transferred from poultry to humans, there are no sustained cases of human to human transfers," Filippi said.
The partnership is planning on making presentations at a local level to civic organizations, county commission, city councils and churches, said Billie Clark, programs manager for Torrance County Project Office.
"The reason we're doing it now is that the state has been working on (a plan) for quite a while. There's an overarching state plan. Health councils and schools have been asked to make preparations," Filippi said.
Partnership officials said there is no reason for alarm -- what is important is that the community becomes prepared for any type of potential disaster.
"There's the possibility that (a pandemic flu) may never happen," said Angie Coburn, administrator for the Esperanza and Mountainair Family Health Centers and member of the partnership.
"(But) I can't overemphasize how important it is to come up with a plan," Clark said.
For more information contact the project office at 832-0332.
(c) 2008 Albuquerque Journal. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.
Pandemic Flu Plan Prepared
Posted on: Thursday, 15 May 2008, 15:00 CDT
By Laura Nesbitt Mountain View Telegraph
Officials from the Partnership for a Healthy Torrance County are preparing for another type of potential disaster.
"Internationally there's a real concern about the possibility of pandemic flu. They're not talking about if, but when," said Linda Filippi, coordinator of the Mountainair High School health clinic.
A flu pandemic is a global outbreak that occurs when there is no immunity to a new virus, according to American Red Cross information.
An ARC informational film about a pandemic flu outbreak and how to be prepared was shown at the beginning of the partnership meeting on May 7.
"The virus that (the World Health Organization) is most concerned about right now is (avian flu) H5N1. (Although) it has transferred from poultry to humans, there are no sustained cases of human to human transfers," Filippi said.
The partnership is planning on making presentations at a local level to civic organizations, county commission, city councils and churches, said Billie Clark, programs manager for Torrance County Project Office.
"The reason we're doing it now is that the state has been working on (a plan) for quite a while. There's an overarching state plan. Health councils and schools have been asked to make preparations," Filippi said.
Partnership officials said there is no reason for alarm -- what is important is that the community becomes prepared for any type of potential disaster.
"There's the possibility that (a pandemic flu) may never happen," said Angie Coburn, administrator for the Esperanza and Mountainair Family Health Centers and member of the partnership.
"(But) I can't overemphasize how important it is to come up with a plan," Clark said.
For more information contact the project office at 832-0332.
(c) 2008 Albuquerque Journal. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.