What are public health officials in New Jersey doing about bird flu?
We do not know if the avian type H5N1 eventually will be the cause of the next pandemic or if it will disappear and another influenza virus will be the cause. To prepare for that possibility, the New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services (NJDHSS) has developed an Influenza Pandemic Plan, which is updated periodically. It describes the responsibilities of public health agencies, hospitals, and other public health partners. What is Atlantic County doing to prepare for a possible avian influenza pandemic? The Division of Public Health is working closely with the Atlantic City Health Department and NJDHSS on development of an Atlantic County Pandemic Flu Plan. The intent of this county-specific plan is to help minimize morbidity and mortality, and maintain the operations of essential community services in the event of a pandemic. This plan is updated when new information and guidelines from NJDHSS, CDC, and WHO are made available. The plan is developed to complement both the state
