HHS Convenes America's Leaders To Help Americans Prepare For Pandemic Flu

The U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services (HHS) has launched the Pandemic Flu Leadership
Blog, a five-week-long blog about pandemic preparedness. Participant
bloggers include some of the nation's most influential business, health
care, faith- based and community leaders. This online event is part of a
new campaign to help Americans prepare for a potential influenza pandemic
and engage U.S. leaders in the challenge to help others prepare.


"The conversation about individual preparedness for pandemic flu must
extend nationwide through all possible channels, including social media and
the Internet," HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said. "The blog summit is an
innovative and efficient forum for bringing together leaders for a lively
discussion on the pandemic preparedness movement."



HHS is one of the first government agencies to utilize the
participatory nature of the Internet to create a dialogue around a specific
issue or campaign. This effort to engage individuals in an online
conversation is the one of many steps HHS will be taking to carry out its
campaign to encourage Americans to prepare. By preparing now, individuals
will be better able to withstand the impact of a pandemic, slow the spread
of disease, and lessen the overall impact to themselves, their families and
to society.



Ideas and dialogue generated during the leadership blog will contribute
to HHS' upcoming pandemic influenza leadership forum in June, an event
which will bring together approximately 80 U.S. leaders representing the
business, faith, civic and health care communities. The dynamic leadership
forum will call on participants to help Americans become more prepared for
an influenza pandemic by leveraging their influence and expertise in their
communities to actively promote individual pandemic preparedness.



"It may not be possible to predict with certainty when the next flu
pandemic will occur or how severe it will be, but it is essential to
prepare ahead of time and that time is now," Secretary Leavitt said. "We
are the first generation ever to have an opportunity to prepare in advance
of a pandemic. Government alone can't prepare the nation for a pandemic.
This is a shared responsibility and the challenge requires leadership from
those most trusted and respected in their communities."



The pandemic-focused leadership blog gives national leaders the
opportunity to participate in an ongoing and critical conversation about
the potential impact of a pandemic on individuals, families, communities
and workplaces. Participating bloggers will be asked specific questions
related to the threat of a pandemic in the U.S. and will collaborate on
ideas for what can be done to help their employees, constituents,
customers, congregations and clients prepare now.
















Approximately 16 influential leaders, including leading authorities on
pandemic flu, will blog throughout the next five weeks. A few of the
participant bloggers include Pierre Omidyar, Founder and Chairman of Ebay
and Co-founder of Omidyar Network; David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for
National and Community Service; and Greg Dworkin, Founding Editor of Flu
Wiki and Chief of Pediatric Pulmonology and Medical Director of the
Pediatric Inpatient Unit at Danbury Hospital in Danbury, Conn.



The Pandemic Flu Leadership Blog will continue through June 27 and is
open to the public and media. Comments are welcome and encouraged by all
who visit the blog at blog.pandemicflu.



In conjunction with the blog, HHS will hold a Pandemic Influenza
Leadership Forum on June 13 in Washington, DC with representatives of the
business, faith, civic and health care communities. Using materials
prepared by HHS, local leaders will be asked to reach out to the people
they represent with the essential steps necessary for pandemic flu
preparedness. By preparing now, individuals will be better able to
withstand the impact of a pandemic, slow the spread of disease, and lessen
the overall impact to themselves, their families and society.



An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza ("flu") virus appears
in humans; the new virus causes serious illness and death, and spreads
easily from person to person worldwide. Past influenza pandemics, like the
one that occurred in 1918, have led to: high levels of illness; death;
disruption in normal, everyday activities like going to school, work, or
other public gatherings, and economic loss. For more information visit:
blog.pandemicflu.


U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

blog.pandemicflu