By Staff
LAWRENCE – Van Buren/Cass District Health Department hosts a Pandemic Influenza Planning Summit on Tuesday, Dec. 5, from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Van Buren Conference Center in Lawrence.
"A flu pandemic could have a profound effect on our local community," Jennifer Zordan, director of emergency services coordination, Van Buren/Cass District Health Department, said Wednesday.
"That's why we're hosting this summit. We want to take this opportunity to provide guidance and support to area businesses and organizations as they develop and enhance their continuity and contingency plans to insure essential services are operational during a public health emergency."
The pandemic flu planning event will include presentations from state and local health officials and area business representatives who have already incorporated pandemic planning into their emergency response plans.
Additionally, a panel discussion will give participants an opportunity to address issues that are specific to their organization and guide them toward their "next steps" in pandemic planning.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) predicts that 25 percent to 30 percent of the U.S. population could be affected by a pandemic, and up to 35 percent of the workforce could be affected at any given time.
Scientists are closely monitoring the avian influenza, or bird flu, virus that is currently affecting bird populations in other parts of the world for fear it could evolve into a form that would easily spread between people, resulting in extremely contagious disease worldwide.
Van Buren/Cass District Health Department will provide technical assistance as businesses and organizations initiate and conduct pandemic flu planning.
Call (269) 621-3143, ext. 382, for more information.