Liz Saville Roberts: “As Senator Clinton has highlighted, the need to be prepared for both seasonal flu and a potential avian flu pandemic is…”

“As Senator Clinton has highlighted, the need to be prepared for both seasonal flu and a potential avian flu pandemic is absolutely critical. Some believe the potential avian flu outbreak could be as lethal as the 1918 Spanish flu. One cannot watch or read the news without a report on the concern of flu reaching our shores. In reality, human cases of avian flu have been discovered in 10 countries. Three years ago there were only three confirmed cases of avian flu in humans. Today these numbers have grown to over 224 human cases, 127 deaths. In February, I took part in an avian flu exercise at the National Defense University. That exercise was called Global Tempest--aptly named. The exercise simulated a worst-case scenario flu pandemic, and participants from several Federal agencies, and Members of Congress, took part in the event. We all served as advisers to the President. The exercise showed firsthand how quickly our public health system and real critical infrastructure services can be simply overwhelmed, how communication can easily break down and how panic can take hold amongst the public. We were forced with the difficult decision of having to determine where limited medical supplies and personnel should be targeted, how the Federal Government can sustain the private sector and try to mitigate the real economic effects of the pandemic, and if and when the Department of Defense should be called in to assist with the civilian efforts.…”