| But that doesn't mean state and local officials aren't | | | | and disaster coordinator for the hospital, said the |
| hard at work preparing for it. | | | | county hospital holds regular drills to prepare for a |
| Many experts predict that if a worldwide influenza | | | | pandemic disaster. |
| were to hit the U.S., it would first be seen in | | | | The hospital keeps caches of medications appropriate |
| California. The state is uniquely situated to be the | | | | for a flu outbreak, Smith said. Also, there are plans to |
| first hit by the virus: It borders Mexico, has | | | | make room -- in the hospital's clinics, conference |
| trans-Pacific trade at its ports and airports, and is on | | | | rooms or in other community facilities -- to |
| the Pacific flyway used by migrating birds. | | | | accommodate hundreds more patients. |
| Any or all of those factors could make California an | | | | "We're hoping this never occurs," Smith said. "But |
| entry point for the H5N1 flu strain. | | | | we're doing drills much more frequently than in the |
| San Bernardino County officials say they're preparing | | | | past." |
| now. | | | | Kessee said partnerships between public agencies and |
| "We are planning for the potential and how it would | | | | private businesses is a main focus of county efforts, |
| impact everyone in the county," said Natalie Kessee, | | | | and noted that it would be dangerous to rely on a |
| county program coordinator for preparedness and | | | | large-scale national effort to protect county residents. |
| response. "We're planning what we as a department | | | | "The event would affect the county in multiple |
| need to do." | | | | agencies," she said. "It's beyond something public |
| The H5N1 strain of influenza is just one of the | | | | health would handle alone." |
| possible scourges that could lead to a pandemic, | | | | Dr. Mark Horton, state public health officer, said at a |
| officials said. But by preparing for it, the state will | | | | news conference Thursday that health experts |
| become better equipped to deal with any natural or | | | | worldwide are worried about avian flu. As many as |
| man-made disaster. | | | | one-third of the state's population could become ill if |
| Avian flu is, as yet, largely a disease of birds, both | | | | the virus hit California, he said. |
| wild and domestic. Its spread to humans has been | | | | "An influenza pandemic knows no borders," Horton |
| spotty, but experts fear it could mutate into a form | | | | said. "It would disrupt the health-care system, the |
| that could be transmitted human-to-human. | | | | economy -- all facets of life." |
| Kessee said the county has received $175,338 from | | | | Officials from the governor's office unveiled a plan to |
| the state Department of Health Services and | | | | work with the 10 states along the U.S.-Mexico border |
| expects more to help prepare for a potential flu | | | | --four in the U.S. and six in Mexico -- to study the |
| pandemic. Preparations have been under way for | | | | threat of a pandemic and make plans. |
| months. | | | | "The governor wants to strengthen our safety at |
| Kessee said the county is working with private and | | | | customs, Border Patrol and so on," said A.G. |
| public agencies to buy ventilators, respirators and | | | | Kawamura, secretary of the California Department of |
| sundries such as sanitizers, gloves and masks. | | | | Food and Agriculture. |
| They're also checking on how to best ensure that | | | | "Smuggled birds could also pose a threat," Kawamura |
| the county has supplies of a flu vaccine, such as | | | | said. "The international movement of people, goods |
| Tamiflu, in the event of a pandemic. That's difficult to | | | | and services has increased our vulnerability." |
| plan for, Kessee said, because such medicines have a | | | | The governor's plan calls for stronger border security, |
| limited shelf life. | | | | improving public health monitoring, increased |
| And if supplies of a viral prophylactic are limited, the | | | | international cooperation in both surveillance and |
| county will look to the Centers for Disease Control | | | | response to the virus, and outreach to poultry |
| and the state to determine who gets inoculated. | | | | owners. |
| Likely, first responders such as medical professionals | | | | Sandra Shewry, director of California's Department of |
| would be the priority, Kessee said. | | | | Health Services, said in creating the binational council |
| The county will hire four or five more people | | | | the state is improving an already-strong network of |
| devoted to emergency response in a pandemic, | | | | surveillance and response. |
| Kessee said. | | | | "The council will strengthen California's already robust |
| Scott Smith, a registered nurse in the emergency | | | | response," Shewry said. "It will also strengthen our |
| room at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in Colton | | | | ability to react to natural or man-made disasters. |