Copyright 2006 Anchorage Daily News
All Rights Reserved
By ANN POTEMPA
Anchorage Daily News (Alaska)
Editor’s Note: While the below article focuses mainly on civilians, the full document specifies procedures for treating EMS workers who may have been exposed to pandemic flu. In Supplement A: Antiviral Drug Distribution & Use, the following priority recommendations are given:
Antiviral Priority Group Recommendations
Treatment (in descending order of priority):
1. Patients hospitalized with influenza
2. Health care workers and emergency medical service providers with direct patient contact
3. Public safety workers (fire, police), pandemic responders (public health investigators and responders), essential workers in government and infrastructure-support industry
If a flu pandemic strikes Alaska, who will take charge? The state has published a pandemic flu plan to answer that question.
The full plan can be found at www.pandemicflu.alaska.gov/panfluplan.pdf. Here are a few highlights:
AT THE TOP
Alaska’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management would coordinate all the agencies working together during a pandemic flu.
The likely incident commander would be state public health director Richard Mandsager, said Jamie Littrell, spokesman for the homeland security division.
The State Emergency Coordination Center at the National Guard Armory of Fort Richardson also would open, and representatives from all the state and local agencies would meet there to coordinate their efforts, said Littrell.
IF ALASKA BIRDS ARE INFECTED
If it’s a domestic bird, the state Department of Environmental Conservation will work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, said state veterinarian Bob Gerlach. Gerlach said he’d likely coordinate the response here.
If wild birds are ill, the main agencies are the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey. The Fish and Wildlife Service would likely be the lead agency, said Tom Rothe, waterfowl coordinator for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
IF PEOPLE ARE INFECTED
The state Department of Health and Social Services will take the lead. Specifically, the state Division of Public Health and its top directors would control several functions.
The state’s public health director — now Mandsager — will decide when to activate the state’s pandemic plans.
The state’s chief epidemiologist — now Dr. Jay Butler — will decide when and how to add surveillance for human illness.
TASKS FOR STATE DIVISION OF PUBLIC HEALTH
* Update reports about flu activity in Alaska on the state’s Section of Epidemiology Web site, www.epi.hss.state.ak.us.
* Buy and maintain a stockpile of antiviral medications.
* Decide when to start social distancing, a program that encourages people to isolate themselves from others to prevent spreading the flu.
* Work with school and college officials about closing educational buildings.
* Decide what public gathering places to close.
* If necessary, quarantine those who are sick or exposed to sick people.
* When a pandemic vaccine becomes available, give the shots according to a priority list.
* During a pandemic, distribute the antiviral stockpile according to priorities. State health officials are asking legislators for enough funding for 20,000 to 25,000 courses of antiviral drugs. Priority will be given to people at high risk for flu-related complications, as well as health care providers and first-responders.
Sources: Alaska Division of Public Health draft pandemic influenza response plan; Alaska Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management; Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation; Alaska Department of Fish and Game.