State Collaboration a Key Component in Success of National Pandemic Influenza Implementation Strategy

The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) commends the Department of Health and Human Services, the Homeland Security Council, and the many additional federal departments and agencies engaged in planning efforts, for their accomplishments in preparing our nation for an influenza pandemic. Enormous progress has been made during the last year to advance the nation's ability to handle the next pandemic.

"The degree of collaboration among the states, and with federal and local public health partners on this issue, has resulted in amazing gains in a short period of time," said ASTHO President and Virginia State Health Commissioner Robert B. Stroube. "For instance,

- States as a whole have stockpiled over 13 million courses of antivirals to be distributed to communities when needed. This stockpile is largely funded with state resources.

- All states have pandemic influenza plans, which they are exercising and revising to improve weak points and integrate new federal guidance.

- 96 percent of states and territories conducted pandemic influenza exercises in 2006.

- Every state will conduct exercises on community mitigation strategies and medical surge capacity in 2007.

- States have stockpiled supplies and equipment for pandemic response, including masks, gowns, gloves, lab equipment and supplies, test kits, ventilators and drugs other than antivirals, such as antibiotics.

- 21 states and territories have rapid reporting systems in place to report deaths and contributing causes of death. Another 26 states and territories are well into the development phase.

- States and territories have used federal pandemic influenza funding to strengthen emergency response infrastructure - 37 states enhanced public health laboratories, 32 states developed or enhanced disease surveillance systems, and 27 states enhanced communication systems."

Enabling collaboration, information sharing, and coordinated planning among state, territorial, local, and federal public health agencies is a critical part of the ASTHO mission.

"There is no doubt that investments in public health infrastructure are responsible for significant improvements in state and territorial capacity to respond to emergencies and public health threats," said ASTHO Executive Director Paul E. Jarris, MD, MBA. "Last Fall, state health agencies collaborated with their local and federal partners to link cases of E. coli in 26 states to contaminated spinach and then to implement product recalls to prevent the spread of disease. In Iowa, The Department of Public Health used disease investigation, public communication, and targeted vaccination to effectively respond to an epidemic of over 2,600 mumps cases. And in Dr. Stroube's home state, following the Virginia Tech shooting, the Department of Health coordinated patient transport to assist overwhelmed area hospitals, provided public communications, identified and managed fatalities, and provided support services to families. ASTHO is committed to helping states and territories continue to enhance their response capacity to all hazards."

ASTHO supports a Fiscal Year 2008 appropriation of $350 million to fund the continuation of state and territorial pandemic influenza preparedness activities. These funds will make it possible for state and local public health to tackle the work still to be done.

source;newswire.ascribe.org