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New:  Update on Pandemic Flu, article by Dr. Schaefer
for the Nebraska Medical Association
The Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services along with
public health, public safety and healthcare partners began pandemic flu planning in
September of 2004.
The state Pandemic Flu Plan is in place to protect people and help
save lives. The plan outlines DHHS’ response to a pandemic along with
guidelines for getting vaccine and antiviral medications to Nebraskans.
Nebraska is ahead of the game when it comes to state pandemic flu
planning. We’re one of the first states to have high-level coordination through
homeland security and a governor’s pandemic flu committee. The committee had
its first meeting in 2005 and came up with recommendations, like who should receive
vaccine first, to incorporate into the state plan.
The state also has an internal pandemic flu group who's putting
together the state plan and working with local health departments on pandemic flu
preparedness. Those health departments are currently developing community-specific
pandemic plans.
In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
recognized Nebraska as a leader in Pandemic Flu planning. Nebraska was one of four
states where people were asked to provide input on the national plan.
In 2005, the White House published the National Strategy for Pandemic Flu, which
addresses the federal government's overall approach to the pandemic flu threat and
provides strategic direction for the departments and agencies of the U.S. government.
- National
Strategy for Pandemic Flu
The National Strategy for Pandemic Flu guides our preparedness and response to an
influenza pandemic, with the intent of (1) stopping, slowing or otherwise limiting the
spread of a pandemic to the United States; (2) limiting the domestic spread of a pandemic,
and mitigating disease, suffering and death; and (3) sustaining infrastructure and
mitigating impact to the economy and the functioning of society.
The U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services (DHHS) also released their revised DHHS Pandemic Flu Plan
focusing on the human health aspects of pandemic for our nation. DHHS recently
released the following documents:
- DHHS Pandemic Flu Plan
Part 1, the Strategic Plan, describes a coordinated public health and medical care
strategy to prepare for, and begin responding to, an influenza pandemic. Part 2, Public
Health Guidance for state and local partners provides guidance on specific aspects of
pandemic flu planning and response for the development of state and local preparedness
plans.
Worldwide planning
Based on the World Health Organization's
definition, the world is currently at Pandemic Alert Phase 3 because there have been
"human infections with a new subtype [H5N1] but no human-to-human spread or at most
rare instances of spread to a close contact." (There are six pandemic alert phases.)
Sustained human-to-human transmission anywhere in the world will be the triggering event
to initiate a pandemic response by the United States.
Although the timing, nature and severity of the next pandemic cannot be predicted with
any certainty, a flu pandemic has the potential to cause more death and illness than any
other public health threat. To lessen the impact of a pandemic, CDC, federal, state, and
local partners are preparing, as are many nations across the globe. An informed and
responsive public is essential to minimizing the health effects of a pandemic.
Contact:
If you have bird flu or pandemic flu questions or would like additional information, email
birdflu@dhhs.ne.gov or call the DHHS Disease
Surveillance area at 471-2937.
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