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Deepening
Pennsylvania’s Preparedness With Pandemic Influenza
Summit Next Month
2/24/2006 - In less than a month, Pennsylvania will
convene a summit in Pittsburgh to make sure it is prepared in the
event of an influenza pandemic. We’ve been working hard for
a long time to protect the public’s health. This gathering,
with U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, will
go a long way to make sure our 12.4 million residents are protected.
The commonwealth’s ability to respond to a potential health
emergency was showcased this week after a dancer from New York City
fell ill after a performance at Mansfield University in Tioga County.
The 44-year-old performer was diagnosed with inhalational anthrax
and the news concerned a lot of people.
But, because Pennsylvania was prepared, we reacted quickly and
had a team of public health experts from the Department of Health
in Mansfield to meet with residents, college officials and students
to answer their questions. At the same time, we worked with public
health and law enforcement officers from both New York and the Centers
for Disease Control, or CDC, to investigate the possible cause of
the disease.
After learning the dancer had become sick while working with raw
African animal hides that he used for making drums, we were able
to confidently tell people that, thankfully, this accidental case
of anthrax posed no public health threat.
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There has never been a case of anthrax being passed
from human to human, but it’s important to be vigilant and
ready to tell people what action they should take if they’ve
been exposed to anthrax.
While this performer is seriously ill, he is recovering
in a Pennsylvania hospital and is in fair condition. Our thoughts
and prayers are with him and his family as he continues to battle
this disease.
On March 17, I will host the state’s first
statewide summit at the Omni William Penn Hotel to further the
state’s preparation for a possible widespread disease outbreak,
such as the flu. The day-long event, called the “Pennsylvania
Pandemic Influenza Planning Summit,” will include professionals
from the health care community, emergency responders, elected
officials and education professionals.
This will be a valuable and important meeting to
bring all of those together who will need to be prepared in the
event of such a pandemic. Local preparedness is essential should
a health disaster sweep the globe.
No state wants to face such a crisis, but we need
to be ready. And Pennsylvania is making sure that our front-line
troops are organized and equipped for whatever incident, accident
or disaster faces our residents.
Sincerely,
Edward G. Rendell
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