(From the diaries -- Plutonium Page)
crossposted to The Next Hurrah
The long-awaited CDC pandemic influenza plan is due any day. When it comes out, much of the burden of preparation will fall on local and community health officials. We knew that was likely, but the actual release will be stark, and knowing what's coming is always helpful. From the National Journal:
By definition, a pandemic affects a vast geographic area and a huge number of people. Avian flu would spread fast and easily from person to person (especially in buses and other confined public spaces), since it is contagious before symptoms develop. By the time the first victims appeared, epidemiologists would have to presume that the flu had already spread far and wide.
Every community in America would go on red alert. At that point, the federal government "can't come in and take over," Libbey said. "The math alone just doesn't work."
The federal role in such a pandemic would be largely policy-oriented and advisory, Libbey and local health officials explain. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would issue technical advice to health care workers, such as what symptoms to watch for in the population, how to administer a vaccine or an antiviral, and which groups of patients should receive treatment first.
The government would also distribute the vaccine -- although one doesn't yet exist for the H5N1 strain of bird flu that would likely show up here -- and would provide extra emergency medical supplies, when possible. The Health and Human Services Department, for instance, would undoubtedly tap its emergency stockpiles of medical supplies that are pre-positioned in secret locations across the United States.
But beyond all that, the federal government can't provide much tactical help. "It's every community for itself," says Gary Oxman, the health officer for Multnomah County, Ore., which includes Portland. This comes as no surprise to local officials.
That's why there's Flu Wiki. We are not in the midst of a pandemic. We are not imminently going to be in the midst of a pandemic. But some of these preparations take time, and some take money... and there's a great deal to do at every level, starting with deciding who is in charge.
There's also a rumor that Bush will be announcing a billion dollar flu research and manufacturing capacity initiative. I wonder if Ted Stevens will try and block that, too?