The federal government’s first detailed look at a possible avian flu outbreak makes it clear who’s in charge of responding: everybody.
The report, issued last week, admits that Washington can’t – and shouldn’t try to – completely manage the response to an epidemic that could start overseas, spread around the U.S. and run for months.
That conclusion may alarm some, but it’s probably realistic.
The document underscores the oft-repeated message of recent weeks that state and local officials should be prepared to take major responsibility in an outbreak. The 227- page document outlined a detailed set of tasks the federal government will take but left out some critical details, such as how a vaccine would be distributed and who would get it first.
And there’s some confusion about how the federal government will respond. The plan says the secretary for health and human services would lead the federal health and medical response, but that the secretary for homeland security “is responsible for coordination of federal operations and resources.” There were marked breakdowns in communication between FEMA, homeland security and local officials during and after Hurricane Katrina.
Left for others to answer later are everyday questions of concern to all of us: How will we get around if gasoline stations are shuttered and the buses and trains aren’t running? What will families do if day-care centers and schools are closed? What if stores run out of food and other supplies?
Overall, the report estimates a third of the U.S. population could be infected and that 200,000 to 2 million people could die. The document calls for the government to stockpile enough anti-viral medications and medical supplies to provide some protection while scientists figure out how to develop a pandemic-specific medicine. (On Thursday, the government issued $1 billion in contracts for vaccine development.)
Beyond advice from officials to stockpile food, medicine and water – basically the same preparations for any disaster – Colorado has not announced a detailed response plan. How would hospitals handle a horde of patients? How would health officials assist people in their homes if hospitals and clinics become overwhelmed?
It’s daunting to plan for a disaster whose scope and severity is unknown. But all of us, governments and businesses especially, need to continue planning what to do.
