March 23, 2006
State holds pandemic influenza summit at Purdue
INDIANAPOLIS – U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt joined Gov. Mitch Daniels for "Indiana Prepares: Pandemic Influenza State Summit" on Thursday (March 23) at Purdue University in West Lafayette.
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Leavitt and Daniels joined participants for the afternoon portion of the daylong summit, which was co-sponsored by the Indiana State Department of Health and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. The event provided guidance to Hoosiers about how to plan for this potential disruption in their homes, communities and businesses. Senior officials from other federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Agriculture, also participated in the event with state officials.
Morning and afternoon sessions were streamed live on the Internet by the health department. Individuals also were able to view the Webcast at their local health department or local Purdue Extension Service offices. All materials distributed during the event will be available on the Department of Health Web site.
A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. Pandemic influenza occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which people have little or no immunity and for which there is no vaccine. According to state health officials, pandemic influenza would spread easily person-to-person, cause serious illness, and could sweep across the state, nation and world in very short time.
Sources:
Indiana Department of Health, TJ Lightle, 317/233-7315; tjlightle@isdh.in.gov
Indiana Office of the Governor, Jane Jankowski, 317/232-1622, jjankowski@gov.in.gov
Indiana Health and Human Services Press Office, 202/690-6343
PHOTO CAPTION:
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, from left, and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt were among the speakers today (Thursday, March 23) during the Indiana Prepares summit, which took place on Purdue University's West Lafayette campus. More than 500 people from around the state attended the governor's summit, which was designed to help Hoosiers prepare for a possible pandemic influenza. In addition to the summit, the only such statewide event planned for Indiana, there also will be smaller-scale town hall meetings in other parts of Indiana. (Purdue News Service photo/David Umberger)
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