Is Our Government Ready for the Next Disaster?

Is Our Government Ready for the Next Disaster?

DeGette, Stupak Call on Oversight and Investigation Hearing into Avian Flu Preparedness

WASHINGTON, DC - In the wake of the slow and disorganized federal government response to Hurricane Katrina, U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Bart Stupak (D-MI) called on Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY), chairman of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation, to hold a hearing into the federal government's readiness to respond to an avian flu pandemic.

"Hurricane Katrina should serve as a wake-up call for the federal government to be ready to respond if another disaster hits. Avian flu has the potential to become that disaster - a deadly human virus that could result in a worldwide pandemic," said Rep. DeGette. "Our nation is already behind in preparing for an avian flu pandemic. It is Congress's responsibility to ensure that our country is as ready to defend itself against this clear and present danger as it is the threat of terrorism."

Both the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) are concerned that an influenza outbreak, like the H5N1 virus, has the potential to kill millions of people worldwide. In fact, the WHO released a report today estimating that more than 7.5 million people worldwide could die from a possible pandemic flu outbreak and urged countries to prepare for it now. The WHO is also coordinating a regional Asian nation framework to respond to this threat.

Avian influenza, also known as the H5N1 virus, is endemic in wild birds and poultry in certain countries and is becoming increasingly capable of causing serious disease in humans. The H5N1 virus of influenza has already been transmitted from birds to humans and is likely to be the source of the next pandemic to hit the globe. While HHS recently awarded a $100-million contract to Sanofi Pasteur to develop a vaccine against a pandemic flu, there is much to be learned about whether our country is truly prepared to handle a large-scale outbreak of such a virus.

"The occurrence of a deadly avian flu pandemic may no longer be a matter of if, but when," said Rep. Stupak, ranking member on the Oversight and Investigation subcommittee. "Congress must demand a full accounting from the Administration on what steps it is taking to prepare for and respond to a flu epidemic that may be inevitable. In light of the shortfall of last year's flu vaccine, we learned how critical it is for public health officials to have a plan in place and properly execute that plan in response to a national health crisis. I applaud Congresswoman DeGette for her foresight and leadership that very well may lead our country to head off a possible public health disaster."

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/co01_degette/050930.html