Calvin B. Johnson, M.D., M.P.H.Health Secretary

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 1

Pandemic Influenza Planning in Pennsylvania

• Governor Rendell directed Pennsylvania to develop a two-prong planning approach– Department of Agriculture to

prepare for the increased threat of an H5N1 outbreak in poultry, wild fowl and live stock.

– Department of Health to prepare Pennsylvania’s citizens for a potential pandemic.

Pandemic Influenza Planning in Pennsylvania

• Department of Agriculture Planning Activities– Developed an Avian Influenza

Response Plan– Drafted the “Poultry Worker

Protection Plan: An Interim Guidance for the Implementation of CDC and OSHA Avian Influenza Public Health Recommendations.”

Pandemic Influenza Planning in Pennsylvania

Pandemic Influenza Planning in Pennsylvania

• Held Statewide Pandemic Influenza Response planning Summit in Pittsburgh on March 17th – Hosted by Gov. Rendell,– HHS Secretary Mike

Leavitt

• Hosted Six regional pandemic Summits throughout Pennsylvania.

Department of Health Planning Activities

Pandemic Influenza Planning in Pennsylvania

• Department of Health Planning Activities (continued)– Upgraded state laboratory to expand Biosafety Level 3

capability.– Purchase of two (2) BSL-3 mobile labs

• Department of Health Planning Activities (continued)– Influenza pandemic response activities are coordinated within the

following workgroups:• Human Avian Influenza Prevention Detection Policies and Processes• Workforce Planning• Isolation and Quarantine Procedures• Vaccine and Medication Distribution• Incident Coordination Response• Public Communications Planning• Legal Review• Local Government

Pandemic Influenza Planning in Pennsylvania

• Everyone has a role:– Business

• Continuity of operations• Succession planning• Communicating to

employees• Prevention• Educate customers regarding

pandemic influenza.• Educate on what steps they

should take to prepare.

Pandemic Influenza Planning in Pennsylvania

• Everyone has a role (continued).– Healthcare

• Plan to continue those services• Surge capacity for goods and people• Increased prevention• Protection and detection capability• Disease containment measures

Pandemic Influenza Planning in Pennsylvania

Pandemic Influenza Planning in Pennsylvania

Some challenges for public and private sectors:• Absenteeism – What will absentee policy be and how

will it be enforced?• Critical Businesses – How will these functions be

defined?• Business Mutual Aid – Will employees be redirected

from different sectors to meet staffing shortages?

• Ongoing Activities– Public education and communication. – Strengthening essential partnerships– Strengthening capacity to rapidly vaccinate large

populations.

Pandemic Influenza Planning in Pennsylvania

Seasonal Influenza Preparedness

Pandemic Influenza Preparedness

Pandemic Influenza Planning in Pennsylvania

Pandemic Influenza Planning in Pennsylvania

• State Government contact for Pandemic Planning• Michael Huff, Director, Bureau of Community Health

Systems, PA Department of Health– 717-787-4366

www.pandemicflu.state.pa.us

Pandemic Influenza Planning in Pennsylvania