Who is Essential During A Pandemic Flu Outbreak?

[Guest guest]

Rethinking Who Should Be Considered 'Essential' During A Pandemic Flu

Outbreak

ScienceDaily (Oct. 3, 2008) — Not only are doctors, nurses, and

firefighters essential during a severe pandemic influenza outbreak.

So, too, are truck drivers, communications personnel, and utility

workers. That's the conclusion of a s Hopkins University article

to be published in the journal of Biosecurity and Bioterrorism.

The report, led by Kass, Sc.D, Deputy Director of Public Health

for the s Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, provides ethical

guidance for pandemic planning that ensures a skeletal infrastructure

remain intact at all times. Dr. Kass says, " when preparing for a

severe pandemic flu it is crucial for leaders to recognize that if the

public has limited or no access to food, water, sewage systems, fuel

and communications, the secondary consequences may cause greater

sickness death and social breakdown than the virus itself. "

The authors represent a wide-range of expertise in several areas of

pandemic emergency planning both at the state and federal levels.

After examining several accepted public health rationing strategies

that give priority to all healthcare workers and those most

susceptible to illness, the authors propose a new strategy that gives

priority to a more diverse group. " Alongside healthcare workers and

first responders, priority should be given to the people who provide

the public with basic essentials for good health and well-being,

ranging from grocery store employees and communications personnel to

truck drivers and utility workers, " says Dr. Kass.

The report recognizes that given the widespread and sustained nature

of a pandemic, federal assistance will be spread thin and local

jurisdictions must develop their own preparedness plans to ensure they

are capable of sustained self-sufficiency. Encouraging and working

with local businesses to develop their own response plans can help

reduce the burden on local governments during a pandemic.

Similarly, individuals and families who can afford it should do their

best to prepare for any disaster. The paper notes, the more initiative

the general public exercises in stockpiling several weeks' worth of

food, water, paper goods, batteries medicines, and other needed

supplies, the less vulnerable they will be to a break in the supply

chain. In fact, the report emphasizes, it is important for leaders to

communicate to the middle class and the wealthy that it is their

responsibility to prepare for self-sufficiency in order to free up

scarce supplies and allow first responders to direct their attention

towards those too poor or vulnerable to prepare themselves.

The article lays out a set of ethics rules and principles to help

guide and frame a pandemic response strategy that is evidence-based,

transparent, fair, and recognizes the burdens the public may face. Dr.

Kass points out the " consideration of ethics are critical not only in

having respectful and inclusive discussion and engaging with the

public fairly, but it also improves the likelihood of public health

and medical success through increased cooperation and understanding of

government plans. "

Other authors of this paper include: Otto, DrPH, Senior

Epidemiologist, Department of Defense, Global Emerging Infections

Surveillance and Response System, Armed Forces Health Surveillance

Center, Walter Army Institute of Research; O'Brien, JD,

Principal Counsel, Office of the land Attorney General, Department

of Health and Mental Hygiene; and Mathew Minson, MD, Senior Medical

Officer for Strategic Initiatives, Office of the Assistant Secretary

for Preparedness and Response, U.S. Department of Health and Human

Services.

Adapted from materials provided by s Hopkins Berman Institute of

Bioethics.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081002172441.htm