May 18, 2006

Summit, Web Site to Address Pandemic Flu

State officials are preparing for the possibility of a global outbreak of influenza by hosting a statewide summit on the topic May 23 and by unveiling a new Web site aimed at helping Montanans learn about, prepare for, and respond to an influenza pandemic.

The summit will feature a key federal official from the U.S. Department of Public Health & Human Services (HHS), which recommended earlier this year that all 50 states hold summits to prepare for the potential threat posed by the H5N1 avian influenza virus. The summits are part of a federal strategy to engage key stakeholders—including state and local officials, schools, businesses, health-care professionals, and faith-based organizations—in preparedness planning.

The half-day Montana summit has been organized by the state Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) and will be held in conjunction with the annual Governor’s Conference on Emergency Preparedness May 23-25 at the Holiday Inn in Billings.
 
Dr. Kenneth P. Moritsugu, deputy surgeon general for HHS, will be a featured speaker at the summit. Gov. Brian Schweitzer will deliver the keynote address.

As part of the state’s preparedness efforts, DPHHS has also developed a Web site to help educate Montanans about pandemic influenza: www.pandemicflu.mt.gov. The site describes the risks of an influenza pandemic and provides easy access to state and federal resources people can use to prepare for and respond to a pandemic. It also includes a link to the agenda for the summit and emergency preparedness conference.

For more information, contact Gayle Shirley, DPHHS Public Information Officer, at 406-444-2596, or visit www.pandemicflu.mt.gov.

Page last updated: 06/13/2006