Jun 18, 2008 11:18 pm US/Eastern
State Conducting Flu Pandemic Exercise
BALTIMORE (WJZ) ―
Maryland health officials are testing the state's ability to respond to a flu pandemic. Workers are using plenty of imagination and a simulated flu outbreak just to prepare for the real thing.
Dennis Edwards reports health workers are taking three days to practice.
In times of dire emergency, communication is key. In cases of a pandemic flu outbreak, it's vital.
That's why phones at the central command center at the Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene are ringing. The three-day simulation is designed to smooth the wrinkles and improve the emergency plan.
"Practice makes perfect, so that when game day comes, you're ready to respond directly," said John Colmers, Secretary of the Dept. of Mental Health and Hygiene.
Colmers says hospitals around the state are involved in the simulation. They are looking for signs of coughing, high fever and muscle aches.
While a pandemic flu has no vaccine and is the health hazard of choice for this exercise, health workers say what they learn will help in any public emergency.
"We call that an all hazards approach. So it doesn't matter what the problem is, we will be ready for it," said Colmers.
In 1918, an influenza pandemic killed 50 million people worldwide. In Baltimore, 7,000 people died. If history repeats itself, state health workers say they want to be ready.
"It's a change in the way that we have to live. The government is not going to come and rescue us from everything. It's on everybody to become better prepared," said Sherry Adams, director of Office of Preparedness and Response.
The three-day exercise ends Thursday.
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