Snowy Owl
Retired in 2010, In Memoriam
MSU team developing bird flu emergency plan
http://msutoday.msu.edu/research/index.php3?article=15Sep2006-8
http://msutoday.msu.edu/research/index.php3?article=15Sep2006-8
by Tom Oswald
September 15, 2006 - For the past several months, a high-level university committee has been developing an emergency plan in the event the MSU campus is affected by pandemic flu. The current candidate that is causing concerns is avian or bird flu.
Appointed by President Lou Anna K. Simon and chaired by University Physician Beth Alexander, the committee is charged with developing a plan that will protect the people, programs and missions of the university.
“A pandemic could significantly affect faculty, staff and students, disrupting normal campus activities and impacting academic programs, research, business operations, university travel, public events and our collaborative work within the community and state,” Simon wrote in a letter sent to MSU deans, chairs, directors and managers.
The committee brings together people from all corners of the MSU campus, including representatives from academics, police and public safety, general counsel and university relations.
“It is far more productive to be prepared than scared,” Alexander said. “We too often count on rumor and fear to fuel action rather than careful and thoughtful planning. This is a complex challenge in a complex setting, so approaching the planning deliberately and thoughtfully is critical.”
Many national and international public health officials believe that a widespread bird flu pandemic is becoming increasingly likely within the next few years. However, should the state and MSU be fortunate enough to avoid such an event, the plans developed by this committee would still be relevant.
“These plans will have relevance to other emergencies, local, national or international, natural or human-caused events that can occur and are beyond our control,” Simon said. “Thus, if we do not have a flu pandemic, the work done in planning for avian flu will apply to other potentially disruptive events.”
One of the first tasks the committee completed was the development and distribution of a flyer that gives basic advice on personal infection control measures, points readers to the best sources of information, and comments generally on what the university is doing in its planning efforts.
The committee is also looking for input from the university community.
Additional information is available at www.birdflu.msu.edu
September 15, 2006 - For the past several months, a high-level university committee has been developing an emergency plan in the event the MSU campus is affected by pandemic flu. The current candidate that is causing concerns is avian or bird flu.
Appointed by President Lou Anna K. Simon and chaired by University Physician Beth Alexander, the committee is charged with developing a plan that will protect the people, programs and missions of the university.
“A pandemic could significantly affect faculty, staff and students, disrupting normal campus activities and impacting academic programs, research, business operations, university travel, public events and our collaborative work within the community and state,” Simon wrote in a letter sent to MSU deans, chairs, directors and managers.
The committee brings together people from all corners of the MSU campus, including representatives from academics, police and public safety, general counsel and university relations.
“It is far more productive to be prepared than scared,” Alexander said. “We too often count on rumor and fear to fuel action rather than careful and thoughtful planning. This is a complex challenge in a complex setting, so approaching the planning deliberately and thoughtfully is critical.”
Many national and international public health officials believe that a widespread bird flu pandemic is becoming increasingly likely within the next few years. However, should the state and MSU be fortunate enough to avoid such an event, the plans developed by this committee would still be relevant.
“These plans will have relevance to other emergencies, local, national or international, natural or human-caused events that can occur and are beyond our control,” Simon said. “Thus, if we do not have a flu pandemic, the work done in planning for avian flu will apply to other potentially disruptive events.”
One of the first tasks the committee completed was the development and distribution of a flyer that gives basic advice on personal infection control measures, points readers to the best sources of information, and comments generally on what the university is doing in its planning efforts.
The committee is also looking for input from the university community.
Additional information is available at www.birdflu.msu.edu
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