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Preparation!
That's what Friday's statewide summit on the possibility of a flu pandemic coming our way is all about. It's why former Utah Governor, now Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt, is holding a Pandemic Flu Summit in each state.
His message is worth heeding.
No one can predict for sure what will come of the deadly strain of bird flu that is surfacing in various parts of the world. Experts are saying it could appear in the United States in the next few months as wild birds migrate from infected nations.
Secretary Leavitt's message is not one of panic, but of genuine concern for what could be. As he has said in other states, the U.S. is "overdue and under-prepared" for a flu pandemic. Such pandemics have happened throughout history and "there's no reason to think that trend will stop."
Friday's summit at the Davis Conference Center will bring together an array of public officials and health experts from throughout Utah with the intent of identifying concerns and outlining ways to plan and prepare for the advent of avian flu.
KSL encourages thoughtful participation in the process by key people in every community. If an outbreak of the flu indeed becomes an epidemic, preparation will be a key to saving countless lives.
