January 14, 2009
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.
