States Left on Their Own to Plan for Flu Pandemic

[Omaha Steve]

FULL article: http://blog.aflcio.org/2006/08/24/states-left-on-their-own-to-plan-for-flu-pandemic/

States Left on Their Own to Plan for Flu Pandemic

If a flu pandemic such as avian flu, better known as bird flu, were to strike the United States, government response—including who should receive vaccinations, surveillance, detection and containment measures—varies widely state by state because of “weak” federal guidance and direction, according to a survey and analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

We reported in May the Bush administration had no comprehensive strategy to protect front-line workers in the event of a pandemic and in March, the AFL-CIO Executive Council urged the Bush administration to develop such a plan. (The Pandemic Influenza section on www.aflcio.org provides information and links about protecting workers in the event of a flu pandemic. See below for more information.)

According to the September issue of the CDC publication, Emerging Infectious Disease journal:

The control of future pandemic or interpandemic influenza will necessarily rely on each individual state’s plan to vaccinate persons and detect and contain this disease. Still, the current national pandemic influenza plan presents only a categorization and listing of steps, rather than explicit direction for the states. This lack of central coordination can result in a patchwork of plans that will not adequately detect and control this or other respiratory disease pandemics….Why are there these state plans so disparate? We believe some of the problem results from weak central direction, as has been a criticism of national bioterrorism preparedness.

The survey also finds that not all states included first responders, such as emergency medical technicians, firefighters, police and others, in their vaccination plans.

[madrchsod]

1. actually it is a good thing the feds are out of the planning

state and local governments are much better at dealing with the problem and the feds should only issue guidelines the states should follow