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Report: Nation Not Ready For Flu Pandemic

Report finds 15 weaknesses in government's approach

January 14, 2009

Bird Flu • FDA Gains Insight to Bird Flu Virus • New Flu Bug Proves Resistant to Antiviral Drugs • Report: Nation Not Ready For Flu Pandemic • Antiviral Overuse Could Aid Deadly Flu • 1918 Flu Virus Offers Clues to Prevent Pandemics • Scientists Report Progress Toward Bird Flu 'Cure' • Bird Flu Not the Only Animal Disease Threat • Bird Flu Vaccine Trials 'Encouraging' • FDA Frets about Flu Drugs' Side Effects • World Not Ready For Bird Flu • Researchers: Bird Flu Pandemic Inevitable • Bird Flu Scare in Virginia • FDA Issues Flu Vaccine Guidelines • FDA Approves First Bird Flu Vaccine • More Flu Bugs Show Resistance To Anti-Virals • Seasonal Flu Shot Might Offer Some Bird Flu Protection • Experts Concerned about Tamiflu Overuse • Study Finds Much Bird Flu Planning is Misplaced • U.S. Orders More Bird Flu Vaccine • Scientists Identify Genetic Changes That Could Lead to Bird Flu Pandemic • Drug Interaction Can Render Tamiflu Ineffective • New Bird Flu Variant Renews Pandemic Concerns • Researchers Find New Weapon Against Flu Virus • Researchers Test Spreadability of Bird Flu Viruses to Humans • GlaxoSmithKline Claims Bird Flu Breaththrough • Global Corporations Struggle to Plan For Pandemic • Flu Pandemic Is "Inevitable," EU Experts Warn • Bird Flu Virus May Have Mutated In Indonesian Cases • Indonesian Nurse May Have Bird Flu • Study Warns of "Chaos" and "Panic" If Bird Flu Strikes • Investigators Find No Evidence Bird Flu Virus Has Mutated • Scientists Fear Bird Flu Virus May Have Mutated • Airlines Queasy About Quarantining Bird Flu Victims • More ...

As if a declining economy and continuing terrorism threats weren't enough to deal with, a Congressional report says the U.S. is still unprepared for a potentially deadly flu pandemic.

House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and former Subcommittee Chairman for Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology, James R. Langevin (D-RI), released a Majority staff report Wednesday entitled "Getting Beyond Getting Ready for Pandemic Influenza."

The report examines the nation's state of preparedness and response capabilities in the event of a pandemic influenza outbreak, such as bird flu. It identifies what it calls 16 weaknesses in the government's approach to get prepared for pandemic influenza.

In addition, the report provides 15 critical recommendations for what Congress, the incoming Administration, and the public and private sectors can do to achieve National readiness to combat this threat.

"It is possible that the next influenza pandemic will result in hundreds of thousands to millions of deaths -- even here in the U.S.," Thompson said, "Further, pandemic influenza could destroy the security of our nation and homeland. Yet despite the horrific consequences, we still are not prepared as a nation to fully withstand the impact of such a devastating widespread biological event."

Thompson said the change in administrations presents a new opportunity to ensure that the nation is ready to address pandemic influenza from a position of strength.

"The House Committee on Homeland Security looks forward to working with the Obama Administration to address this threat and achieve National readiness," he said.

Preparations for a possible bird flu pandemic have been underway since 2004, but the disease has thus far not made the jump from animal transmission to humans. So far, people can only get the disease from infected animals. Scientists worry that once it can be transmitted human to human, it will lead to a widespread pandemic, killing millions of people worldwide.

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