Developing a Systematic Pandemic Influenza Program for Preparing a State

Abstract

From a planning perspective, this chapter discusses how to effectively mitigate the spread of an extensive viral infection on a large scale, which requires timely, sen-sible and highly sound planning. The focus is on state level planning under the federal model for developing good operational plans. The chapter clarifies termi-nology, as “epidemic” rather than “pandemic,” as the preferred term for a local or state response. However, after that is explained, “pandemic,” which is the common and more frequently used name and in the chapter’s title, is referenced thereaf-ter in quotation marks. Post the introduction, this study presents a brief history of “pandemic influenza,” how a state prepares to develop a plan, agreements and trigger points which must be decided, the planning process itself, the operational plan with its important template for local use, and conclusions. Tracing a common operating picture from the federal, to the state, and to the city/county levels for “pandemic influenza,” planning is the first theme. How to incorporate continuity of government and continuity of operations into a plan, in the face of a rapidly spreading “pandemic,” is the second one. Last, how to deliver from the state to the county level, one workable document called an Operational Plan (OPLAN) with a county template for local use, is the last theme. That template gives counties a “pandemic influenza” model for planning that is the same as states and regions use, which they can directly apply locally. Thus this planning process saves lives during a “pandemic.”