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November 5, 2005

Local, state health officials prepare for flu

By Scott Fitzgerald Staff Writer

According to national news reports, a pandemic flu plan recently released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is putting much of the response authority on individual states.

Although Oklahoma’s health system would be overwhelmed, a plan is in place and has been for some time.

“It (pandemic influenza) is not something that would sneak up on us. We would have some advance notice,” said Larry Weatherford, of the state Health Department.

State officials incorporated much of their preparation for a pandemic flu plan in conjunction with a bio-terrorism response plan drawn up a few years ago, Weatherford said.

“We have a crisis risk and community plan that is very detailed. It can be translated into Spanish immediately and allows for distribution of information to the public through media sources,” Weatherford said.

Much of the plan, which would be monitored by individual county health officials, calls for preventative measures to avoid getting influenza, much of what is stressed in current health information, such as people washing their hands and staying home if they become sick, said Dr. Brett Cauthen, an epidemiologist with the state Health Department.

There are provisions for drastic measures to eliminate person-to-person contact, such as canceling gatherings like classes, ball games, concerts and movie shows, Weatherford said.

It’s a concept the Centers for Disease Control refers to as “social distancing,” Weatherford said.

Physicians would be asked to give up their regular clinics and help dispense any kind of flu vaccinations or medicines that would be provided, Cauthen said.

“We would want to distribute it in quick time,” Cauthen said.

Dispensing flu vaccinations timely and quickly is something most county health departments already are practicing.

Administrator Stephen Rempe, of Garfield County Health Department, said in an earlier interview a free flu clinic was moved from downtown to Oakwood Mall recently because more parking was available for the general public at the mall.

County health officials marveled a year ago at the efficiency of the Oakwood Mall setting when they had a limited supply of flu vaccine, resulting in long lines of people that nonetheless were able to move quickly.

Enid Public Schools has prepared for pandemic influenza in much the same fashion as the Health Department.

Prevention, such as making flu shots free-of-charge and easily accessible, is the first protocol.

Monitoring absences and educating students, parents and guardians is a procedure practiced continually.

And, if a pandemic was officially declared, school officials would work closely with the county Health Department and carry out any instructions officials would give, said Amber Fitzgerald, Enid Public Schools spokeswoman.

Mike Honigsberg, director of emergency management for Garfield County and the city of Enid, said upon reviewing information regarding the recently released national plan, much of the emphasis is on preventative measures.

Disaster drills that county emergency agencies participate in regularly, such as one held last month in Enid, will have pandemic flu scenarios in the future, Honigsberg said.

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