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Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation |
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Influenza viruses have threatened the health of animal and human populations for centuries. A pandemic occurs when a novel strain of influenza virus emerges that has the ability to infect and be easily passed between humans. Because humans have little immunity to the new virus, many people may become ill and a worldwide epidemic, or pandemic, can ensue. Three human influenza pandemics occurred in the 20th century. In the United States (US) each pandemic led to illness in approximately 30 percent of the population and death in between 2 in 100 and 2 in 1000 of those infected. It is projected that based on this historical experience and given the current US population, a pandemic today, absent effective control measures, could result in the deaths of 200,000 to 2 million people in the US alone.
The US Government (USG) has developed a comprehensive strategy to prepare for and respond to an influenza pandemic, including developing and acquiring vaccine and antivirals to prevent and treat illness, planning for use of measures to reduce the spread of the disease by asking ill persons to stay home, voluntary quarantine of household members who live with an ill person, closure of child care facilities and dismissal of students from schools, decreasing the frequency and duration of close contact among people to slow transmission of infection (social distancing), recommending hygiene measures, and advising the use of personal protective equipment in certain situations. HHS has developed a number of guidances to assist government agencies, businesses, community organizations, and the public in their preparedness efforts, utilizing these strategies. The three guidance documents available for public comment are part of this series and should be reviewed as part of an overall approach to pandemic preparedness.
The USG is requesting comment from the public and interested stakeholders on three draft guidances: Interim Guidance on the Use and Purchase of Facemasks and Respirators by Individuals and Families for Pandemic Influenza Preparedness; Proposed Guidance on Antiviral Drug Use During an Influenza Pandemic; and Proposed Considerations for Antiviral Drug Stockpiling by Employers In Preparation for an Influenza Pandemic.
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Note: Please see the Federal Register Notice for instructions and the deadline for submitting comments. Electronic comments submitted via email are preferred. Email attachments are permitted.
Responses to this notice will be available to the public in the HHS Public Reading Room, 200 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C., 20201. Please call (202) 690-7453 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to arrange access.
Ms. Julie Schafer, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, (202) 205-2882.
Last revised: 05/28/2008
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