What is Tarrant County Public Health doing to address pandemic flu?
In Tarrant County, pandemic flu planning efforts have been underway for more than a year. A pandemic flu response plan has been developed providing a template for dealing with this issue. The plan includes: 1. Surveillance through; a. local sentinel physicians in strategic geographic locations b. hospitals c. nursing homes d. local independent school districts. 2. The use of public healths North Texas Regional Laboratory, which can accurately test for the avian flu virus within 24 hours 3. Drugs and supplies through the Strategic National Stockpile 4. A rapid distribution system This plan is updated continually as new information becomes available. Tarrant County Public Health is also leading public information efforts to raise awareness of this issue and to help the county inhabitants better understand the complex issues that will arise if pandemic flu becomes a reality. These include prioritizing who will receive scarce medications and vaccine supplies and how a pandemic will impact
