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SPEAKOUT: Is Colorado prepared for a flu pandemic?

By Randy Atkinson and Catherine Benavidez

Published March 10, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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For more than two years the federal government and leading health care experts have warned about the likelihood of a flu pandemic, which could potentially result in the death of millions of people and be an unprecedented cost to the nation's economy.

World Health Organization officials have cautioned that we are closer now to another pandemic than at any other recent time because of the persistent bird flu epidemic in East Asia that threatens to jump to humans.

Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health agree and reported in 2006, "we are at a relatively high risk for a virus to emerge that could cause a pandemic" and "trends exist which indicate the amount of virus in the world is immense."

Those at greatest health risk in a pandemic include first-responders (fire and law enforcement agencies), the health-care community, children, college students, the poor, the elderly, businesses, employees and anyone with a compromised immune system.

In this very mobile society we will be faced with incredible challenges if and when the pandemic hits Colorado.

The federal government has outlined a strategy to stop, slow, or otherwise limit the spread of a pandemic influenza in the United States. This includes requiring that every state develop a preparedness plan. At the same time, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has purchased antivirals to use for treatment and prevention - enough to cover 15 percent of the U.S. population. Health and Human Services has asked each state to consider funding an additional 10 percent of antivirals so that 25 percent of the population will be covered.

Health and Human Services currently offers to subsidize 25 percent of the cost of each course purchased by a state, but this subsidized rate for the states is scheduled to expire in July.

Colorado is one of only five states that have not purchased the additional antivirals to help minimize the effects of a pandemic - something especially critical to those of us in high-risk professions on the "front line" in a pandemic.

As a state, we are recognized for the importance we place on our quality of life, health practices and the environment. However, we have been slow to react to the Health and Human Services request to secure our own antiviral stockpile that we can immediately access in a flu pandemic.

To help promote public awareness of this important issue, several Colorado groups have joined with us in the Colorado Coalition for Pandemic Preparedness. We hope our support of this effort will be a positive contribution to citizens and the state as we prepare for the next flu pandemic.

Finally, we encourage readers to learn more and take the necessary precautions to protect their families. We recommend the following Web sites for more information: www.pandemicflu.gov or www.healthyamericans.org.

Randy Atkinson is president of the Colorado Professional Firefighters Association. Catherine Benavidez is a member of the Colorado chapter of the National Association Hispanic Nurses. They are co-chairs of the Colorado Coalition for Pandemic Preparedness.

Comments

  • March 10, 2008

    7:40 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Art writes:

    When we find out that the present flu vaccine was formulated without the necessary prevention for the flu that is going around this year we become skeptical of any attempts to vaccinate large numbers of our population. Perhaps the state made a good fiscal decision by not buying large quantities of a vaccine which did not protect people from what it was expected to protect them from. The flu strains change each year and it appears that for the most part we are unable to accurately predict which strains will be needed next year in time to produce the proper vaccines. As the article states "Those at greatest health risk in a pandemic include first-responders (fire and law enforcement agencies), the health-care community, children, college students, the poor, the elderly, businesses, employees and anyone with a compromised immune system." Who does this leave that is not at risk? A plague of some sort is overdue and nature will get the better of us in the long run. We cannot prevent everything and we have to recognize that any plans we make to prevent such things will not be totally effective. We have to plan to deal with the outcome. Trying to vaccinate everyone for the flu is a waste of time and money.

  • March 10, 2008

    8:15 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    Mike_In_Hartsel writes:

    The sky is falling, the sky is falling. Oh, wait. It's not? Predictions are often wishful guesses and outright lies. We'll be out of Bosnia in a year (we're still there); the millennium bug will destroy our society (a really big bust); global warming will destroy civilization (no hard evidence to support that); the flu will destroy civilization (been saying that for years); the Nile Virus will ruin our lives (where is it?); I didn't have sex with that woman (yes, you did).

    One can tell when it's a slow news day because the mass media does shallow in-depth articles about the next fabricated crisis. The latest fabricated crisis is the non-existent health care problem. Add that to the list above.

  • March 10, 2008

    9:48 a.m.

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    Eagle5 writes:

    Of course, Colorado should get with it, but the problem always is money for Colorado. Our legislators continually have to dream up ways to empty our wallets. It is really amazing, and sick, with all the sources of revenue they already have. Makes you wonder just where it is all going to - their pockets?

  • March 10, 2008

    1:49 p.m.

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    redwhiteandBLUE writes:

    We weren't ready for 9-11, we aren't ready for anything, so sorry to say. We can't even get our voting system right. More less a huge catastrophe.

  • March 11, 2008

    9:59 a.m.

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    tinkerbell writes:

    You won't see me and my kid in line for Tamiflu. Have you seen the FDA reports on this stuff? Look: http://www.fda.gov/medwAtch/safety/20...

    Now, do you really want to take this if you dont' have to? Not in my job description....

  • March 11, 2008

    6:17 p.m.

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    gary writes:

    Yep....the swine flu already killed us all in the 70's.

    More crap from people with too much time on thier hands.

    Nuff Said,,

  • March 11, 2008

    9:44 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    redwhiteandBLUE writes:

    Y2K comes to mind.

  • March 13, 2008

    10:16 p.m.

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    kathyM writes:

    If we forget the past, we're doomed to repeat it. In two short years the "Spanish Flu" killed 50 MILLION people worldwide. A deadly pandemic WILL happen again if we give up trying to prevent it!