Title
A MOTION urging Congress to provide full funding for an exercise to demonstrate capabilities and integration of governments to respond to a pandemic influenza outbreak in King County.
Body
WHEREAS, the World Health Organization has found that, to date, over one hundred human cases with over fifty deaths have occurred as a result of Avian influenza A (H5N1) and it poses a considerable human public health risk, and
WHEREAS, the Department of Homeland Security has determined that pandemic influenza is a possible emergency scenario, and
WHEREAS, Public Health-Seattle-King County has estimated that with an attack rate of thirty-five percent that 809 to 2,666 deaths and 249,916 to 466,642 outpatient medical visits due to pandemic influenza may occur in King County, and
WHEREAS, King County is the thirteenth largest county in the United States, and
WHEREAS, the source of Avian influenza is Asia and King County experiences significant immigration and international visits from Asian countries, and
WHEREAS, King County has significant experience in regional disaster and emergency planning including preparing a regional disaster plan, creating the emergency management advisory committee and conducting a top officials exercise ("TOPOFF 2") to demonstrate capabilities and integration of governments to respond to a dirty bomb explosion, and
WHEREAS, in March 2005, the King County pandemic flu preparedness task force was created to: (1) improve the effectiveness of the local healthcare system response to pandemic influenza and limit mortality and morbidity; and (2) facilitate coordination and collaboration among healthcare system stakeholders and between healthcare system and the department of public health, and
WHEREAS, on April 15, 2005, the King County board of health received a briefing on pandemic influenza, and
WHEREAS, on May 20, 2005, the King County board of health passed Resolution 05-04 directing the King County board of health to...
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