Peer-Reviewed, Online Database Showcases Local, County and State Pandemi... (erious financial toll. One report predic...)

Peer-Reviewed, Online Database Showcases Local, County and State Pandemic Planning

Date:9/24/2007

erious financial toll. One report predicts a range -- from a global cost of approximately $330 billion in a mild pandemic scenario, to $4.4 trillion worldwide under a 1918- like scenario.

Planning for a flu pandemic represents a challenge in public health. No one can predict the severity of the next pandemic, and there is a shortage of data from past pandemics to help guide planning. Despite the hard work of professionals across the public health community, America is unprepared for even a moderate pandemic. For example, the public health research and advocacy group Trust for America's Health noted in its 2006 report card -- supported in part by The Pew Charitable Trusts -- that 25 states would run out of hospital beds within the first two weeks of a moderate flu pandemic.

"It is crucial that states, counties and cities continually enhance their preparedness for pandemic influenza," said Michael Osterholm, PhD, MPH, CIDRAP director. "This online database represents an important step by providing concrete, peer-reviewed materials to further public health preparedness."

PandemicPractices.org highlights approaches that communities across America have developed to address three key areas: altering standards of clinical care, communicating effectively about pandemic flu and delaying and diminishing the impact of a pandemic. Users can easily find practices applicable to their communities. The database can be searched by state or topic, as well as by area of special interest, such as materials translated into multiple languages, materials for vulnerable populations, or toolkits for schools.

Among other topics, promising practices in the database showcase how communities plan to:

-- manage scarce resources during a pandemic,

-- share core messages in multiple languages,

-- safeguard vulnerable populations,

-- provide medical care when hospitals and clinics are overwhelmed,

-- teach people to care for ill family members a
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