NCJ Number
214859
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 54 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2006 Pages: 46-48,51-52,54,55
Date Published
May 2006
Length
7 pages
Annotation
After describing the nature of the threat of an avian flue pandemic, this article describes how local and regional agencies should organize to prepare for such an event.
Abstract
The avian flu (the H5N1 virus) is transmitted from wild birds to domestic birds and then to humans through oral contact with an infected bird's fluids; however, the major concern is that a mutation in the strain will produce airborne transmission, which means that any cough or sneeze of an infected party could transmit the virus. The latest report of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicates that as of March 2006, 96 of the 175 people worldwide who had been infected died (55 percent), compared to 2 percent death rate for previous pandemics. Currently, there is no vaccine. In the instance of an outbreak and a shortage of vaccines, law enforcement officers should follow the same precautions they would follow in an outbreak of the seasonal flu. Departments should provide antibacterial hand sanitizers for officers and make tissues available. Departments should also consider budgeting for additional medical expenses for officers in case the department health plan does not cover antiviral medication. Also, departments should experiment with schedules by extending or reducing shifts for optimum officer coverage. Local and regional officers will be primary actors in identifying, containing, and bearing the risks and consequences associated with a pandemic. Procedures for actions in these areas must be well-defined prior to the occurrence of a pandemic. A good source of technical assistance for such procedures is the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC advises that existing departmental plans for a toxic material emergency can be adapted to the needs of a flu pandemic.