Dear Mr. Leavitt, Health and Human Services Secretary
As someone concerned about our nation's health, I am writing to urge you to addresses the potential impact of a deadly pandemic flu outbreak, and to improve the plan for how United States will prepare to prevent it.
This week, George Bush announced his plan for dealing with the bird flu threat facing this country. Experts predict that over half a million could die, and over 2.3 million could be hospitalized. He proposed inadequate funding to prepare the hospitals and train the caregivers who will distribute vaccines and care for the ill.
We all saw what happened during Hurricane Katrina. Because of poor planning, hospitals were pushed to the limits. Doctors and nurses worked around the clock, and patients suffered as a result. In the event of a pandemic this could happen across the nation.
As you prepare for this possible pandemic, I ask that you add concrete plans to address issues of hospital staffing and emergency response. America's hospitals and workers are ready and willing to help, but they need training and resources. With chronic staffing shortages, reductions in emergency room capacities, and limited training and resources for emergency response, the facilities at the front lines of emergency response will be unable to stem the epidemic.
Today, despite increased attention by federal and state health officials, America still is not prepared for a global killer flu outbreak. Prevention is the key to securing and protecting our borders and the best way to save American lives. All Americans are susceptible to the influenza virus, including the avian flu.
Thank you for your support.