Facilitated Group Discussion Pandemic Response Pandemic Response: First Move - Outbreak of novel influenza: H9N2 at; Large number of infections in London, Seoul, and Jakarta Efficiently transmitting person-to-person Transmission likely through respiratory routes - Medical services are overwhelmed across parts of Asia - Insufficient lab capacities in remote areas make reporting and tracking difficult - Health officials warn that this could become the worst influenza pandemic since 1918 - No reported U.S. cases Pandemic Response: First Move . The World Health Organization (WHO) requests additional antiviral drugs from manufacturers and donations from unaffected countries? stockpiles - Many countries have banned travel to affected countries - The United States has implemented a travel advisory but has not banned travel - Experts speculate that the virus will soon be identified in the US. due to travel between the US. and Asian countries am? Key Issues for Discussion - Organizing for a simultaneous international and domestic response Working with the WHO and international partners Who is the lead Federal agency for domestic and international responses? - HHS, USAID, CDC, roles - Preparing for a national response Public Health Emergency (PHE) Medical Countermeasures: global stocks, development, and distribution - Pharmaceutical (vaccines and antivirals) - Non-pharmaceutical (protective equipment and medical devices) Communications to the public and key stakeholders - International trade and movement of people Border management Guidance to American Citizens with reference back to HHS and CDC anm Pandemic Response: Second Move - Cases of H9N2 influenza have now been reported in California and Texas - The world will be facing an impending shortage of key resources such as: Antiviral drugs Personal protective equipment - Other medical equipment, such as ventilators Key Issues for Discussion - National Response to a Pandemic Flu How does our domestic response change now that there are cases in the Domestic delivery of medical countermeasures - U.S. hospital preparedness and response State and local governments lead public health response - Federal Government may provide significant support with HHS as the lead Federal agency for the domestic response - Sustaining a simultaneous international and domestic response Addressing global shortage of countermeasures such as antivirals and equipment - Sustaining an effective communications strategy - Funding to include supplemental resources from Congress Key Takeaways Influenza pandemics and other emerging infectious disease threats may start internationally and do not respect borders Bringing decision-makers to the table early is paramount the science and the disease must drive response decisions Transportation and containment issues are a key concern and decisions will need to be made about screening and monitoring on epidemiology as well as safe movement of patients Different diseases will require different interventions. collective understanding of Collaboration between federal and state public health officials is crucial Considerations related to health screening and travel for passengers will differ depending on the disease A coordinated, unified national response and message is paramount In a pandemic scenario, days and even hours can matter Smart decision-making should provide as much lead time as possible to prepare. Medical countermeasure strategy is key for success Both pharmaceutical, such as vaccine and anti-viral develo pharmaceutical, such as social distancing and PPE pment and distribution, and non- Supplemental funding will be needed to fund response