Homeland Security Council Issues Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza
The President's Homeland Security Council has issued a document entitled Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza, which according to a White House fact sheet, provides direction to Federal departments and agencies, State and local governments, communities, and the private sector on the actions that must be taken to prepare for a possible pandemic across six functional areas, one of which is transportation and borders.
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The fact sheet adds that the federal government is closely monitoring an avian influenza virus known as H5N1, which poses a pandemic influenza threat, as it has infected domestic birds, including chickens, and also migratory and other wild birds in 50 countries across Asia, Europe and Africa, as well as more than 200 people worldwide.
(In November 2005, the President announced the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza, a comprehensive approach to addressing the threat of pandemic influenza. See ITT's Online Archives or 11/07/05 news, 05110755 1, for BP summary.)
Highlights of Plan's Statements on Transportation and Borders
The fact sheet states that the plan lists more than 300 actions for Federal departments and agencies, and sets clear expectations for State and local governments and other non-Federal entities, among other things. Information in the plan regarding transportation and borders includes (partial list):
Border closure would delay, but not stop pandemic influenza. The Plan states that any nation, including the U.S., has the sovereign right to control, and if necessary, close its borders. However, in the event of a pandemic, a border closure would likely delay but not stop the spread of influenza to the U.S., and would have significant negative social, economic, and foreign policy consequences.
Low risk of influenza transmission by cargo. The Homeland Security Council states that excluding live animal and animal product cargo, the risk of influenza transmission by cargo is low-noting that inanimate ship-borne cargo poses low risk and routine surfaces are easily decontaminated. Furthermore, with appropriate measures for workers in specific settings, cargo shipments could continue.
Planning efforts should assess supply chain impact, etc. According to the Homeland Security Council, it will make it clear to State, local, tribal, and private sector entities that planning efforts should assess systemic effects such as supply chain impact, just-in-time delivery, warehousing, and logistics, and should support the development of contingency plans to address lack of critical services and delivery of essential commodities, such as chlorine for water purification, gasoline, food and medical supplies.
Implementation plan (dated May 2006) available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/homeland/pandemic-influenza-implementation.html
White House fact sheet on pandemic flu implementation plan (dated 05/03/06) available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/05/20060503-5.html