Avian Flu Program Called Model for Nation

By Bob Retzlaff, Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.

Jan. 2–RENO, Nev. — The Rochester-Olmsted County story of preparedness for a possible avian flu pandemic is gaining national attention.

A possible influenza pandemic has been likened to the one in 1918, which killed an estimated 40 million to 50 million people worldwide. So far, avian flu has been confined to rural Asia, and it hasn’t been proven that the virus can mutate to humans.

“If it infects the human population, the watchword is community preparedness,” Pete Giesen of the county’s Public Health Department told about 100 people at a National League of Cities workshop recently in Reno.

The Olmsted County preparedness program is considered a model for other communities.

Giesen, the Health Department’s emergency preparedness coordinator, is chairman of the Olmsted County planning committee.

Rochester City Council member Marcia Marcoux, the city’s representative on the preparedness committee, presented an overview of what communities need to do to prepare for such a public health disaster.

“And a disaster it could be,” Giesen said. “How will your community operate when 30 or 40 percent of your employees — including key workers in small departments — are stricken with the virus and can’t come to work. Or worse?

“Additionally, don’t expect any help from outside agencies. The cavalry won’t be rushing in to help you. It’s a case of YOYO — You’re On Your Own,” he said.

The federal government has made it clear that it will be in no position to offer substantial help to states and cities during such a crisis, Marcoux said.

“All local first-responders, both public and private, should be involved in any comprehensive emergency response plan. All city and county departments must be a part of the planning process, as well as such other governmental entities and private agencies such as schools, medical centers, the Red Cross, ambulance companies, businesses, National Guard and long-term care providers,” Marcoux said.

The Health Department has estimated that if a pandemic flu hit Olmsted County, 37,000 people, or 30 percent of the county’s 125,000 residents, would become ill within a relatively short time.

Up to 4,125 people might need hospitalization within a few weeks, and up to 619 could need intensive care. These numbers would exceed Rochester’s 3,000 hospital bed-capacity.

According to public health officials, 750 people in Rochester alone could die in a severe outbreak. They would be among the 20,000 people in Minnesota who could die, officials estimate.

“Cities would be severely challenged to maintain order and continue vital operations — such as those provided by police, fire, public works and public utility departments — if this outbreak occurs,” Marcoux said. “Cross-training of employees, not only within each department but interchanging with other departments, would be vital. If one department is short of workers because of an outbreak, employees could be borrowed from other departments. But they must be trained beforehand.”

Christine Becker, deputy executive director of the National League of Cities, called the Rochester exercise “a good model (nationally) for both preparing and practicing. Practice is essential to an effective response whenever an emergency hits.”

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Copyright (c) 2007, Post-Bulletin, Rochester, Minn.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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