The Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy at the University of Minnesota and the Pew Center on the States last week launched a database of more than 130 peer-reviewed strategies for combating an influenza pandemic, Government Technology reports.
The database, called PandemicPractices.org, includes practices from four countries, 22 states and 33 counties. The database addresses pandemic flu approaches in three key areas:
- Changing standards of clinical care;
- Communicating effectively about pandemic flu; and
- Delaying and diminishing the impact of a pandemic.
The database can be searched by topic or state, as well as by special interest areas, such as materials translated in multiple languages, materials for vulnerable populations and toolkits for schools,
Government Technology reports.
Pandemic planners can examine and download planning materials from the site and use or adapt them to fit local needs.
"This online database represents an important step by providing concrete, peer-reviewed materials to further public health preparedness," Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota center, said.
Jim O'Hara, managing director of HHS policy at the Pew Charitable Trusts, said, "The federal government has a national plan ... [b]ut that plan will be useless unless states and local communities are ready and able to handle a public health emergency on the ground" (
Government Technology, 9/27).