US Military Begins Planning for a possible pan/flu

[sharon sanders]

US military begins planning for avian flu pandemic



by Jim Mannion 24 minutes ago

The US military has begun to plan for a possible avian flu pandemic that could kill as many as three million people in the United States in as little as six weeks, a Pentagon planning document said.


The Defense Department's "Implementation Plan for Pandemic Influenza," which was posted Wednesday on a Pentagon website, lays out guidelines and planning assumptions for US military services and combatant commands.

Possible scenarios include US troops being called in to put down riots, guard pharmaceutical plants and shipments, and help restrict the movement of people inside the country and across its borders.
The plan envisions fast moving, catastrophic waves of disease that would overwhelm health facilities and cripple the ability of state and local authorities to provide even basic commodities or services.


"A pandemic in the United States could result in 20-35 percent of the population becoming ill, three percent being hospitalized, and a fatality rate of one percent," the document said in a section on "planning assumptions."

A human-to-human outbreak of avian flu was most likely to occur outside the United States and may not be contained effectively, it said.


"A pandemic outbreak will last between 6-12 weeks and multiple pandemic waves will follow," it said.


If a pandemic influenza starts outside the United States, it will enter the US at multiple locations and spread quickly to other parts of the country, according to the report.


A vaccine for the specific strain of flu would not be available for distribution for a minimum of six to nine months after a human-to-human outbreak had been clinically confirmed, it said.


Transportation within states or internationally will be restricted to contain the spread of the virus, and communities may voluntarily close schools and limit public gatherings.


"Military and civilian medical treatment facilities will be overwhelmed," it said.

It said the military will be called on to evacuate non-infected people from areas abroad that are having problems, and to help allies.
But the guidance said the US military's top priority would be to preserve the operational effectiveness of the Defense Department and its forces around the world.


Additionally, the Defense Department will develop a plan to ensure the continuity of operations of the US government and be prepared to support civilian authorities with medical supplies, airlift and security forces.
A key military role will be to distribute medical supplies and medications and provide security for the production and shipment of vaccines on orders of the president.


"When directed by the president, DoD will provide support to civil authorities in the event of a civil disturbance," the document said. "DoD will augment civilian law enforcement efforts to restore and maintain order in accordance with existing statutes."


The military also may assist civil authorities in "isolating and/or quarantining groups of people in order to minimize the spread of disease during an influenza pandemic," it said.



http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070510/pl_afp/healthfluusmilitary

 

[Treyfish]

Re: US Military Begins Planning for a possible pan/flu

Yowza!They don't mince words in this report.

 

[hawkeye]

Re: US Military Begins Planning for a possible pan/flu

Any idea where the report is located?"

This page is dated "Immediate Release May 09, 2007"

However the document is dated 2006

http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=10849


DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE IMPLEMENTATION
Preparing and responding to a pandemic influenza will require an active, layered defense. This
active, layered defense is global, integrating seamlessly, U.S. capabilities in the forward regions
of the world, in approaches to the U.S. territory, and within the United States. It is a defense in
depth.5 It will include assisting partner countries to prepare for and detect an outbreak, respond
should one occur, and manage the key second-order effects that could lead to an array of
challenges. The top priority is the protection of DoD forces, comprised of the military, DoD
civilians and contractors performing critical roles, as well as the associated resources necessary
to maintain readiness. Also, it is critical to ensure DoD is able to sustain mission assurance and
the ability to meet our strategic objectives. Priority consideration is also given to protect the
health of DoD beneficiaries and dependents.
Planning Assumptions
• Developed countries will be quicker in preparing for, detecting, and responding to
outbreaks than less developed countries.
• Some Coalition partners, allies, and host nation governments will request military
assistance and training from the USG for pandemic influenza preparedness, surveillance
and detection, and response.
• An efficient human-to-human outbreak will most likely occur outside of the United States
and may not be contained effectively.
• A pandemic outbreak will last between 6-12 weeks and multiple pandemic waves will
follow.
• Pandemics travel in waves; not all parts of the world will be affected at the same time or
affected to the same degree (e.g., multiple waves).
5 Department of Defense, “Strategy for Homeland Defense and Civil Support,” (June 2005).
8
• DoD can expect requests from interagency partners to support civilian mortuary affairs
operations.
• If a pandemic influenza starts outside the United States, it will enter the U.S. at multiple
locations and spread quickly to other parts of the country.
• A pandemic in the United States could result in 20-35% of the population becoming ill,
3% being hospitalized, and a fatality rate of 1%.
• A vaccine (pandemic specific strain) will not be available for distribution for a minimum
of 6-9 months after the clinical confirmation of sustained human-to-human pandemic
influenza transmission.
• State, tribal and local jurisdictions will be overwhelmed and unable to provide or ensure
the provision of essential commodities and services.
• Infected people, confirmed (when possible) or suspected, will not be transported to any
facilities beyond the affected area unless their medical condition demands movement.
• International and inter-state transportation will be restricted to contain the spread of the
virus.
• Voluntary, community-based measures, such as limiting public gatherings, closing
schools, and minimum manning procedures, are most effective to limit exposure to the
disease if implemented before or at the onset of the event. Quarantine and other
movement restrictions, especially if the restrictions are involuntary, will have minimal
effect on the spread of the disease due to a very short incubation period and the ability of
asymptomatic individuals to shed the virus.
• The provision of routine security services for the protection of critical infrastructure will
require Federal augmentation.
• Military and civilian medical treatment facilities will be overwhelmed.
• Military treatment facilities and other installation support functions will be short staffed
due to the use of some uniformed providers providing support elsewhere.
• DoD will conduct Non-Combatant Evacuation Operations (NEOs) of non-infected
individuals from areas abroad experiencing outbreaks.
• DoD will be called upon to assist in the transportation of American citizens living abroad
if deemed necessary by public health officials or the U.S. State Department.
• In accordance with existing agreements, and in limited circumstances, under Immediate
Response Authority, DoD will provide support to local communities’ medical efforts
9
with personnel, equipment, pharmaceuticals, supplies, and facilities within DoD
capabilities, as requested.
• Under applicable authorities, DoD will assist civil authorities in the event of a pandemic.
• DoD reliance on "just-in-time" procurement will compete adversely with U.S. and
foreign civilian businesses for availability of critical supplies.
• DoD will support security and possibly staffing of National Critical Infrastructure at all
levels (e.g., air traffic control, security for National critical infrastructure, etc.).
• DoD Reserve component forces will need to be quickly mobilized to provide surge
capabilities, especially in the areas of medical, transportation, and logistics.

 

[Laidback Al]

Re: US Military Begins Planning for a possible pan/flu

"A pandemic in the United States could result in 20-35 percent of the population becoming ill, three percent being hospitalized, and a fatality rate of one percent," the document said in a section on "planning assumptions."

I would say those are pretty optimistic assumptions.

 

[hawkeye]

Re: US Military Begins Planning for a possible pan/flu

So the US is officially at "Stage 0" ?

Stages of the Federal Government Response
The World Health Organization (WHO) pandemic phases provide succinct statements about the
global risk for a pandemic and provide benchmarks against which to measure global response
capabilities (See Annex B, Force Health and Protection). In order to describe the Federal
Government approach to the pandemic response, however, it is more useful to characterize the
stages of an outbreak in terms of the immediate and specific threat a pandemic virus poses to the
U.S. population. The National Implementation Plan (Chapter 3) provides a framework for
Federal Government actions:
? Stage 0: New Domestic Animal Outbreak in At-Risk Country
? Stage 1: Suspected Human Outbreak Overseas
? Stage 2: Confirmed Human Outbreak Overseas
? Stage 3: Widespread Human Outbreaks in Multiple Locations Overseas
? Stage 4: First Human Case in North America
? Stage 5: Spread throughout United States
? Stage 6: Recovery and Preparation for Subsequent Waves

 

[hawkeye]

Re: US Military Begins Planning for a possible pan/flu

As a friend of mine once said "they don't make these reports for fun"

 

[hawkeye]

Re: US Military Begins Planning for a possible pan/flu

Article here as well:

http://rawstory.com/news/afp/US_military_begins_planning_for_avi_05102007.html

 

[hawkeye]

Re: US Military Begins Planning for a possible pan/flu

I'm a bit confused:

The "Current Phase is 3" on this Official US DoD site:

http://fhp.osd.mil/aiWatchboard/

I'm assuming that is WHO Phase 3 and not US Govt "Stage" 3 ?

So the US is officially at "Stage 0" ?

Stages of the Federal Government Response
The World Health Organization (WHO) pandemic phases provide succinct statements about the
global risk for a pandemic and provide benchmarks against which to measure global response
capabilities (See Annex B, Force Health and Protection). In order to describe the Federal
Government approach to the pandemic response, however, it is more useful to characterize the
stages of an outbreak in terms of the immediate and specific threat a pandemic virus poses to the
U.S. population. The National Implementation Plan (Chapter 3) provides a framework for
Federal Government actions:
? Stage 0: New Domestic Animal Outbreak in At-Risk Country
? Stage 1: Suspected Human Outbreak Overseas
? Stage 2: Confirmed Human Outbreak Overseas
? Stage 3: Widespread Human Outbreaks in Multiple Locations Overseas
? Stage 4: First Human Case in North America
? Stage 5: Spread throughout United States
? Stage 6: Recovery and Preparation for Subsequent Waves

 

[hawkeye]

Re: US Military Begins Planning for a possible pan/flu

Thanks Treyfish, this PDF clarifies and further explains the US response to WHO Phases:

http://fhp.osd.mil/pdfs/piclinicalphguidelinesmhs.pdf

 

[hawkeye]

Re: US Military Begins Planning for a possible pan/flu

Flu :: DoD Teams With Other Agencies to Prepare U.S. for Pandemic Flu Outbreak

The Defense Department is teaming with other federal agencies to prepare the nation to deal with a potential pandemic outbreak of influenza, a senior official said here yesterday.?Right now, we?re as ready as we can be at this point,? said Richard Chavez, director of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear preparedness and response at the department.

The Defense Department is rolling out its Pandemic Influenza Implementation Plan to the public today, part of the president?s initiative to prepare the nation for a potential mass outbreak of deadly influenza virus or other threats. Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon R. England signed off on the defense department?s portion of the interagency plan in August 2006.

?What we want to do is get information out to the public so that we don?t create panic, but do provide them with the proper level of information,? Chavez said, noting the defense department works closely with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other agencies.

The plan includes information on how people can help curtail the spread and mitigate the effects of a possible flu pandemic, Chavez said during a joint interview with the Pentagon Channel and American Forces Press Service.

Pandemic flu is a fast-spreading human flu that causes a global outbreak, or pandemic, of serious illness that could sicken or kill hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of people, according to the U.S. government?s pandemic flu Web site. For example, the 1918 flu epidemic killed millions of Americans.

Chavez said the Defense Department also teams with the U.S. departments of Homeland Security, Health and Human Services, and State, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, and other groups to monitor possible pandemic-causing maladies such as the avian, or bird, flu.

One bird-flu virus in particular, known as H5N1, is especially deadly to fowl. It can be spread to humans, who have no natural immunity to it. More than 170 people worldwide have died from avian flu, according to the World Health Organization.

One of the main pillars of the national plan to confront a pandemic outbreak of influenza is containment, Chavez said. Containment of an outbreak of potentially deadly avian flu or other illnesses is predicated on early detection and action, he emphasized.

?If it starts with the avian vector, which is the poultry right now, we can identify the farms that are affected (and) cull the birds before they have the chance to infect other birds and animals,? Chavez said.

Another component of the plan, he noted, involves research and development and stockpiling of appropriate anti-viral vaccines and other medicines.

U.S. officials also have conducted extensive interviews with medical experts in Singapore on how they successfully dealt with the deadly severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, epidemic that occurred worldwide between November 2002 and July 2003, Chavez noted.

Incorporating such lessons learned from other countries ?is all part of the process? in preparing the United States to respond to a potential pandemic outbreak, Chavez said.
(Last updated on Friday, May 11, 2007, and first posted on Friday, May 11, 2007)

 

[hawkeye]

Re: US Military Begins Planning for a possible pan/flu

If the document was prepared for the public, then why doesn't it contain information regarding long-term FOOD and WATER stockpiles? (At least I didn't see any).

 

[sharon sanders]

Re: US Military Begins Planning for a possible pan/flu

bump this.

 

[gsgs]

Re: US Military Begins Planning for a possible pan/flu

> preserve the operational effectiveness of the Defense Department
> and its forces around the world.

do they intend to keep their foreign bases in a severe pandemic ?

so, are they going to recruit new people to fullfill their national tasks
as outlined ?