The American Public Health Association (APHA) today released its blueprint for strengthening the nation's pandemic preparedness, amid persistent concerns about a potential influenza pandemic.
In its policy summary, APHA recommends key changes to the nation's strategy for preparing and responding to a flu pandemic to ensure the health and safety of all individuals. Among its top concerns is the need for additional resources for an already overburdened public health work force that may lack the resources to fully respond to a flu outbreak. Other needs include clear federal guidance on school closures, quarantine and occupational health in the event of a pandemic.
It is not just the public health sector that should be prepared for a pandemic, said Georges C. Benjamin, MD, FACP, APHA's executive director.
"The general public must be equipped with the proper resources to prepare themselves in the event of a flu pandemic," Benjamin said. "The better we prepare now, the better our chances will be for protecting the health of Americans during an emergency."
APHA's recommendations include: