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DeGette, House Democrats, Act to Prepare Nation for Avian Flu Pandemic

Date: Oct. 7, 2005
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Health and Health Care


DeGette, House Democrats, Act to Prepare Nation for Avian Flu Pandemic

WASHINGTON, DC - Concerned that the United States is not prepared for a possible avian flu pandemic, U.S. Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO) announced she was sponsoring the "Attacking Viral Influenza Across Nations Act of 2005." The bill outlines specific steps for the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take to ready the nation for a possible public health emergency.

"Despite ample warning, our nation is not prepared to combat an avian flu pandemic," said Rep. DeGette. "Rather wait any longer for others to act, we would require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to stockpile needed vaccines and establish the national, state and local coordination that would be critical to effectively respond to a pandemic."

The plan, sponsored by Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) in the Senate, would require the Secretary of HHS to:

Procure sufficient stockpiles of antivirals and vaccines for use in a flu pandemic;

Establish a fund to assist other countries affected by pandemic flu;

Integrate and coordinate public and private influenza surveillance activities;

Require states to have an approved state preparedness plan as a condition of receiving funds related to bioterrorism from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA);

Rep. DeGette also joined 13 other senior Democrats, including Leader Nancy Pelosi, Whip Steny Hoyer and Caucus Chair Robert Menendez, in signing a letter to President George W. Bush urging him to ensure that the nation is adequately prepared for a potential avian flu pandemic

"We have only one domestic manufacturer of injectable flu vaccine, the supply of antiviral medications in our national stockpile is insufficient and state and local health officials lack the necessary resources to deal with an outbreak," said Rep. DeGette. "No national plan has been finalized. That is why we are asking the President to work with Congress, in a bipartisan manner, to craft and implement a comprehensive plan to combat a flu pandemic."

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

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