[Ip-health] AP: Draft of pandemic flu plan predicts huge impact

[Mike Palmedo]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2002966012_fluplan02.html

Draft of pandemic flu plan predicts huge impact

By NEDRA PICKLER and LAURAN NEERGAARD
May 2, 2006
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON =97 The government forecasts massive disruptions if bird flu or
some other super-strain of influenza arises, with as much as 40 percent
of the national work force off the job, but it doesn't foresee closing
U.S. borders to fight the spread, according to a draft of the national
response plan obtained Monday by The Associated Press.

[snip]

Last fall, President Bush announced a $7.1 billion strategy to fight the
next flu pandemic, focusing largely on public health preparations,
including plans to stockpile enough bird flu vaccine for 20 million
people and anti-flu drugs for 81 million. So far, the stockpile contains
enough vaccine for 4 million people and medication for 5 million.

[snip]