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MODESTO,
CA – A hypothetical influenza virus strikes Stanislaus County on May
17, 2006. Multiple government agencies and private organizations will gather
to “manage” the outbreak during the Stanislaus County Health
Services Agency’s Pandemic Influenza Tabletop Exercise. This full
day exercise at the Double Tree Hotel/Centre Plaza addresses the response
complexities of a hypothetical influenza outbreak in Stanislaus County.
Facilitating multi-agency coordination provides the basis for the development
of a comprehensive community response plan. Subject matter experts are available
for interview from 8:10-8:30 a.m. The exercise is open to media from 8:30-9:00
a.m.
The exercise tackles issues related to an influenza pandemic during a
six-month period of time, beginning with the initial detection of a lethal
virus, to its spread across the globe, and, finally, the local consequences
for the citizens of Stanislaus County. Areas addressed at the local level
include disease surveillance, emergency management and response, hospital
surge capacity, mass vaccination, and public communication/education.
The exercise gives participants an opportunity to evaluate current countywide
infrastructure and to consider the relationships and responsibilities
of all agencies involved.
Here are some important facts to remember:
- Currently there are less than 200 human cases among the billions of
humans on the planet. Most cases are related to DIRECT exposure to live
poultry. There is minimal risk associated with consumption of properly
cooked poultry and eggs.
- Avian influenza is NOT a new disease. Outbreaks within poultry populations
have occurred before in California and have been successfully contained.
The current H5N1 strain existed in Asia since 1997.
- · Avian influenza is spread primarily by the oral ingestion
of infected material, so good hand hygiene is imperative.
- Avian influenza refers to infection of birds, and spread to humans
is extremely rare. Currently, there is no pattern of human-to-human
transmission. The potential for a human pandemic would require mutation
of the virus such that there is person-to-person transmission. This
has NOT occurred.
There is recorded information about avian influenza
in English and Spanish on the
Health Services Agency’s Flu Hotline at 558-8872.
Additional local information is available on the Agency website at www.hsahealth.org
as well as the new Stanislaus County website at www.stanemergency.com
and the Federal website at www.pandemicflu.gov
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