The District is developing a comprehensive prevention and response plan regarding the avian flu, which has yet to reach the U.S. continent. The plan involves a disease prevention component that emphasizes proper hand washing and sneeze suppression techniques aimed at preventing the spread of disease organisms. It also will outline the District's response to an actual flu outbreak or pandemic, including how District administrative and school-based staff will organize to continue operations in response to excessive student and employee absenteeism and other issues.
To date, there have been isolated outbreaks of the avian flu in sections of Asia and Europe. In all cases, the disease has been spread directly from birds to human beings. Containment of these early isolated outbreaks has largely been successful. The main concern involves the potential for the avian flu to evolve to the point where the disease may be spread from human to human.
While it is highly likely the avian flu will eventually arrive in this country, various federal, state and local health officials are already mapping plans for handling a potential avian flu outbreak and pandemic. These plans involve developing an effective vaccine for the disease, as well as contingency plans for isolating and treating victims and preventing further spread of the ailment.
The District already has disease prevention, mitigation and contingency plans on the shelf for normal flu outbreaks that happen on a seasonal basis every year. The avian flu plan for the district has been drafted based on these already established plans in anticipation of the potential arrival of this relatively new strain of flu in the United States.
Additional information on the avian flu is available at the Web site below.
www.pandemicflu.gov |
