Virginia Pandemic Influenza Summit

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Virginia Pandemic Influenza Summit

• Greater Richmond Convention Center
• Richmond, Virginia
• March 23, 2006

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Preparing for a pandemic requires the leveraging
of all instruments of national power, and
coordinated action by all segments of government
and society.
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The influenza virus will not respect political
or geographic boundaries -- a threat against one
nation is a threat against the entire world.
Mike Leavitt SecretaryUS Department of Health
and Human Services
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Pandemic planning must occur at all levels of
government all sectors of society. We must
develop a nationwide system of plans integrated
to address the shared threat.
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In the last 300 years, the world has experienced
10 influenza pandemics, three in the last
century.
Source http//www.cdc.gov/flu/pandemic/keyfact
s.htm Source Homeland Security Council,
National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza,
November 2005
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The Influenza Pandemic of 1918-1919
25-30 percent of the worlds population fell
ill500,000 deaths in the US
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Influenza viruses do not respect the distinctions
of race, sex, age, profession or nationality,
and are not constrained by geographic boundaries.
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Migratory Bird Flyways
H5N1 in birds coming soon to a flock near you?
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We do not know whether the H5N1 influenza virus
in birds will be the virus that sets off a
pandemic. It is still primarily a disease among
animals not people. But the signs are worrisome,
and we must be prepared.Bruce Gellin,
M.D.DirectorNational Vaccine Program OfficeUS
Department of Health and Human Services
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The World Health Organization (WHO) defines six
pandemic alert phasesWe are currently at Phase 3
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So far, there is no sustained human-to-human
transmission of H5N1 influenza..but we must
prepare.
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The Three Pillars of the NationalStrategy for
Pandemic Influenza1. Preparedness and
Communication2. Surveillance and Detection3.
Response and Containment
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a newly emerging influenza virus can wreak
catastrophic damage worldwide in a matter of
months.Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.Director,
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious
Diseases
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Robust pandemic preparedness requires
coordination with state and local public health
officials and emergency responders.
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.an infection carried by one person can be
transmitted to tens or hundreds of others. For
this reason, individual action is perhaps the
most important element of pandemic preparedness
and response.