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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 10, 2008 No. 08-073 PBS SPECIAL EXAMINES PANDEMIC FLU ISSUES State and county officials, including Maj. Gen. Tod Bunting, the adjutant
general and director of Kansas Homeland Security and the Kansas Division
of Emergency Management, will take part in a live television special to
be broadcast on Kansas public television stations on Sunday, July 13.
The program, “Kansas Homeland Security: Pandemic Flu,” is produced
by KTWU Channel 11 in Topeka and will be seen on all PBS stations in Kansas. The one-hour program will begin at 5 p.m. with taped greetings from Gov.
Kathleen Sebelius. Video and live segments with public health and safety
experts will focus on the history of pandemic flu, its effects, how it
spreads; what can be done to prevent a pandemic outbreak in the state
and what to do should an outbreak occur. In addition to Bunting, guests will include Richard Morrissey, interim
Health Director, Kansas Department of Health and Environment; Dr. Gail
Hansen, state epidemiologist, Kansas Department of Health and Environment;
Dr. Paul Grosdidier, Kansas Animal Health Department; Dr. Gianfranco Pezzino,
Shawnee County Health Officer and interim director of Kansas Public Health
Studies with the Kansas Health Institute; and Col. Terry Maple, Kansas
Highway Patrol superintendent. Bunting noted that the flu epidemic in 1918 actually killed more people
worldwide than died in World War I. “There were three major flu outbreaks in the last century that killed
more than 50 million people around the world,” said Bunting. “Pandemic flu is something that many people don’t think about
or don’t want to think about,” Bunting said. “However,
it is a major concern because of the number of people who may become ill
or even die, and also because of the impact it can have on our economy
and society. What happens when you have large numbers of a city’s
police, fire and emergency responders unable to work because they are
ill? What happens to our food production and distribution systems when
those workers are out sick? What happens when hospitals and doctors are
overwhelmed with large numbers of patients? These and other issues need
to be considered and continuity of operation plans made to address them,
not just by city and state governments, but by business, industry and
every citizen.” “We want to minimize the impact a pandemic can have by being as
prepared as possible,” said Bunting. "The Kansas Highway Patrol has been active in preparing for a pandemic
through planning and training exercises to help ensure that our agency
is equipped to respond to the public's needs," said Maple. "An
influenza pandemic will affect law enforcement the same as it affects
the rest of the population, so it is imperative that the Patrol collaborate
with stakeholders now so we are all better equipped to respond during
a pandemic and mitigate its impact." Check local listings for PBS stations in your area. -30- |
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