U.S. preparing for possible pandemics

Pandemics are a "natural part of living on this planet," but good planning creates a blueprint for dealing with any large-scale crisis, the U.S. government's highest-ranking physician told members of the newly formed Governor's Task Force on Pandemic Influenza Thursday.

Admiral John O. Agwunobi, assistant secretary for health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, likened pandemic to a hurricane or tornado. You're not sure in advance when they're coming, but come they will, he said.

He warned that it would be "unwise" for any nation to look at a hurricane or pandemic or other disaster as the sole responsibility of emergency response teams. It's everyone's problem.

Medical teams won't be able to handle those sickened in a full-blown pandemic on their own. People will need to learn how to treat milder cases at home, said Agwunobi, admiral in the U.S. Public Health Service.

As for bird flu, which many health experts predict will spark the next global pandemic, "it's like a tropical storm. We don't know if it will become the next hurricane." It could be a category 6 pandemic and devastating, or a category 1 or 2, said Agwunobi. But if it arrived in its current form tomorrow, America would be no closer to pandemic because bird flu is not easily transmitted between people, a hallmark of pandemic.

Pandemics historically disrupt everything, from businesses to government functions, schools (which are a great friend to spreading such illness), public safety and more. All those entities have to be part of the solution, he said.

This is, however, a time of opportunity, because "for the first time as a nation and communities we have started to prepare for the next pandemic" before it occurs, he said. It would be a mistake, however, to think we are preparing solely for avian flu. "We are preparing for whatever pandemic happens."

Local preparations are the most important, he told the 36-member task force, which was meeting for the first time, because each community will be impacted differently. Other roles, like investing in development of a vaccine, are a job for the federal government. So is global disease surveillance. And the federal government must "assure a basic level of readiness" and spur local pandemic efforts.

The task force is charged with examining the state's pandemic plan (available at health.utah.gov) and suggesting improvements. Topics the governor asked them to address include whether antivirals should be stockpiled and in what quantity, an examination of the health-care system's ability to deal with a pandemic and recommendations to strengthen it. They're also asked by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. to find ways to educate the public on what it needs to do to cope with pandemic and how to take care of sicked loved ones.

The task force will meet several times in the next six months to form its recommendations.

---

E-mail: lois@desnews.com