HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt Joins Governor Sonny Perdue At Georgia Pandemic Planning Summit, USA

Acknowledging that pandemics happen
and require a strong local response, Governor Perdue and HHS Secretary Mike
Leavitt signed a resolution, committing the state and federal government to
planning efforts. They did so before an audience of public health officials,
business and community leaders, gathered to address pandemic flu preparedness.


Secretary Leavitt is in Georgia as part of a national tour of states, as the
federal government prepares the country for a potential influenza pandemic.


"Pandemics are global in nature but their effects are always local, so I
am pleased that Governor Perdue is taking a leadership role to prepare Georgia
for this threat," Secretary Leavitt said. "Pandemic planning needs to address
how schools, businesses, public agencies, faith-based organizations and others
participate in pandemic preparedness. With this meeting, local officials can
identify needs specific to Georgia communities and begin crucial coordination
to assure readiness if a pandemic outbreak strikes."


"Of all the many hazards we face, a pandemic has the unique potential to
disrupt our lives, our health care system and our economy," said Governor
Sonny Perdue. "Georgia's State Emergency Operations Plan, and our county and
city emergency plans, provide the state with a robust plan consistent and
supportive of national efforts."


In the planning resolution, HHS commits to providing guidance and
technical assistance to Georgia; an initial amount of financial assistance for
planning, $2,609,920; and agrees to review the state's plans for use, storage
and distribution of antivirals and notify it of its portion of the federal
stockpile of pandemic influenza antiviral drugs. Georgia agrees to assure
that its operational plan for pandemic influenza response is an integral
element of the overall state and local emergency response plan and to
establish a Pandemic Preparedness Coordinating Committee representing all
relevant stakeholders. The state will also notify HHS of the amount of
additional pandemic influenza antiviral drugs it will plan to purchase and
will exercise its preparedness plan within six months of today's summit.


The event is Georgia's first statewide gathering to address pandemic
readiness planning, and will give a broad range of organizations an
opportunity to participate in the process. Invited guests include first
responders, business leaders, educators, health care providers, faith-based
organizations, volunteer agencies, policy makers and others.


Secretary Leavitt outlined a series of in-state summits to address
pandemic preparedness Dec. 5. The in-state summits will help the public
health and emergency response community in each state inform and involve their
political, economic and community leadership in this process. Secretary
Leavitt and other top HHS officials will participate in the meetings over the
next few months. HHS has also prepared tools to help with the planning
process, including a state and local checklist, a business checklist, a guide
for individuals and families, and a checklist for faith-based organizations.


U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

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