Pandemic Statewide Summit

February 18, 2006

Gov. Kenny Guinn and United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt today hosted a statewide summit to discuss planning for a potential pandemic flu outbreak. The summit, which took place at the Henderson Convention Center, brought together more than 150 officials and community leaders to discuss best practices and to coordinate plans in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak.

The goal of the summit was to raise awareness among state and local leaders about the importance of planning for a possible flu outbreak or any other health-related threat that may occur in the state in the future.

“Although the state was already working very diligently to prepare for the potential outbreak of a pandemic flu, today’s summit allowed healthcare professionals and key community leaders the opportunity to hear how the federal government is preparing and to better coordinate existing statewide plans in the event of a health emergency,” Gov. Guinn said. “I want to thank the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services for all its work in coordinating this summit and in making it such an outstanding success.”

In addition to the aforementioned, Nevada summit invitees included: hospital and healthcare professionals; federal representatives and state legislators; education officials; county commissioners and county managers, mayors and city managers; chamber of commerce members; military personnel; airport authority members; various state and local agency personnel; and other community and religious organizations.

The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services, working in conjunction with the governor’s office, has been meeting with numerous state and local agencies since October 2005 to discuss planning for a possible pandemic flu emergency. Specific plans have been formulated as a result of these meetings, which involve both public agency and private business responses to such an emergency, including how hospitals would respond if inundated with a barrage of patients exhibiting flu-like symptoms.

Sec. Leavitt and other federal officials are in the midst of a national campaign, conducting individual summits in each state.