Department of Health

Flu Pandemic Preparedness

A pandemic occurs when a novel strain of influenza emerges that has the ability to infect people. Since it is new, people have relatively low immunity to it and the virus can spread rapidly. Pandemics have occurred three times since 1900 (1918, 1957, and 1968), killing millions of people worldwide. We examined whether the Department of Health has taken steps to prepare for, and respond to, a flu pandemic, and found that the Department has taken such steps. For example, the Department has developed a written plan for responding to a flu pandemic and has distributed federal grant funds to counties and hospitals for health emergency preparedness activities.

For a complete copy of Report 2007-S-9 click here.
For a copy of the 90-day response click here.
For a copy of the associated follow-up report click here.