FAIRFAX, Va. - For several months, the EMS Section of the IAFC has been gathering information on the potential pandemic issues surrounding the avian (bird) flu. A task force was assembled at Fire-Rescue International in Denver to develop a plan to disseminate the information to our members and other allied public safety groups. A series of articles has been published in the IAFC bi-monthly newsletter, On Scene, and will continue throughout the remainder of 2005.
In order to get this information to all fire stations and IAFC members, a brochure has been developed that provides information for agencies and providers on influenza. The information focuses on planning, infection control, signs and symptoms, and other related information. These can be posted in your facility, and we encourage you and your department to share this information with all of your members and their families. These are set to be mailed the week of November 7, 2005.
Another information tool that has been established is a special section on the IAFC home page, www.iafc.org. On the home page, go down the right side to “What’s Hot” and click on “Avian (bird) flu.” This will link you to each of the articles, a resource list for additional information and a PDF file of the brochure that you can download if you wish to have additional copies. Please use 8.5" X 14" paper for the best resolution.
On Nov. 1, President Bush released the national readiness plan. The national strategy can be viewed at http://www.pandemicflu.gov/ or http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/pandemic-influenza.html. You can also download the entire document in PDF form from this Web site. Within the plan, the president calls for $7.1 billion dollars:
· $1.2 billion for 20 million doses of vaccine against the current strain of bird flu
· $1 billion to stockpile anti-viral drugs
· $2.8 billion to speed vaccine development and research
· $583 million for state and local governments to prepare plans to address a pandemic.
The IAFC Board of Directors and the EMS Section will continue to monitor the progress at the federal level and support initiatives that improve the health and safety of our members.