Fort Worth Adds Pandemic Kits to Emergency Preparedness Strategy
2007 NOV 19 -- Avian Influenza has faded from news headlines, but the threat of a pandemic still looms, and the City of Fort Worth is vigilant in its concern about the possibility of an H5N1 "Bird Flu" epidemic. The Fort Worth Public Health Department's Emergency Preparedness Division, headed by Dr. Cathy Spranger, has selected Bird Flu Smart of Mountain View, California to create a pandemic kit for its employees. "There is continued need for pandemic preparation in local communities," said John T. Carlo, MD, MSE and Medical Director of the Dallas County Health and Human Services. He expressed caution about public complacency saying, "Ordinary citizens must educate themselves and stockpile necessary items at home." Forth Worth's pandemic kits are designed to protect individuals from a pandemic outbreak of bird flu H5N1 or other infectious agent. Each kit contains goggles, N-95 masks, gloves and protective clothing to provide barriers to infection. Also included are antimicrobial wipes and an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, since good hygiene is an important factor in preventing infection. The pandemic kits are individually wrapped for easy distribution to employees or volunteers. One or more kits can be added to a group's "go-bag," for ready transfer to a new location in case of office closure. "Although the Bird Flu threat may seem far away to many Americans, it is actually only an airplane flight away from the United States," said Dr. Tracy Ferea, founder of Bird Flu Smart. A recent report from the Fred Hutchison Research Center announced that in 2006 H5N1 was transmitted from person to person. Clearly it is possible for this to happen again in a manner that could be sustained. "If people wait until a pandemic strikes, they will be faced with shortages of supplies," Ferea predicted. She explained that the average pandemic can last six to eight weeks. While this amount of preparation may seem overwhelming, she suggests that the most important thing is to just get started. "Several days' preparation is better than none, and you can always build from there," Ferea said. "Our customers, which include government agencies and businesses, are starting pandemic preparedness at a level that their budgets allow, be it several days or several months." For more information about Bird Flu Smart or pandemic preparedness please visit http://www.birdflusmart.com/ . Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link. Tracy Ferea http://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=57958 Keywords: Avian Flu, Avian Influenza, Bird Flu, Emergency Preparedness, Bird Flu Smart. This article was prepared by Anti-Infectives Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Anti-Infectives Week via NewsRx.com.
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