Health officials say flu pandemic coming

Published 10:22 pm Thursday, July 6, 2006

An influenza pandemic could leave 6 million Georgians infected and between 9,470 and 21,990 hospitalized, according to information presented Thursday night by officials from the North Georgia Health District.

That pandemic could kill between 2,670 and 6,210 in Georgia alone, according to those statistics.

“We don’t know when it will happen, but we know it probably will happen,” said Jennifer Moorer with the health district.

The health district held a meeting at the Dalton Community Center to give the public information on the possibility of a flu pandemic as well as how to prepare for it and other disasters. Officials also informed people on how to volunteer for the North Georgia Medical Reserve Corps.

Individuals and families need to be prepared, not just for a flu outbreak, but also for other medical emergencies and natural disasters, Moorer said.

She showed a recommended home disaster kit that included not only flashlights, radios and first aid supplies, but also three days worth of food and water for each family member.

Federal and state officials are already making plans on how to handle a potential pandemic, including how to distribute vaccines and other medicines, Moorer said.

Hospitals and health departments will be overwhelmed. So local health districts will set up other points of distribution for that medicine, probably at local schools.

But they’ll need about 50 people to man each of those distribution points. That’s where the Medical Reserve Corps comes in.

“We obviously need people with medical backgrounds to volunteer. But we also need people who may not have any medical background,” said Joanne Mauro, the health district’s volunteer coordinator.

Those people can provide transportation, provide clerical help, serve as interpreters or fill other roles.

Corps members could also be mobilized for other emergencies and natural disasters locally, and, if they wish, in other areas as well.

Mauro said that after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks many people rushed to New York City to volunteer their help. But without any central clearinghouse, agencies didn’t know about many of those people. The same thing happened last year after Hurricane Katrina.

“If you are a member of the Medical Reserve Corps, we know who you are, how to contact you, what your skills and abilities are and how you can best help,” Mauro said.

To volunteer, call Mauro at the health district at (706) 272-2125, extension 306.

Volunteers must fill out an application, go through an interview and three-hour orientation, and take three online courses offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Those over 18 must also pass a criminal background check.

Fewer than 10 people attended the meeting, a fact Moorer called disappointing.

“But we will just keep beating that drum until we have educated everyone in Whitfield County,” she said.

Moorer said the health district, which includes Whitfield and Murray counties, can make a similar presentation at businesses, as well as churches and other social groups. For more information, call (706) 272-2125.

“I think it is important that people know this information and know what to do,” said Patricia Hardson, one of the people who attended the meeting.



For more information on influenza, go to pandemicflu.gov. For more information on general disaster preparedness, go to ready.gov. And for information on the Medical Reserve Corps, go to medicalreservecorps.gov.