The School of Public Health is taking action on the outbreak of swine-origin influenza A (H1N1) flu in the United States and internationally. The current situation is an example of the critical need for public health professionals to prepare the nation to cope with disease outbreaks, and the School of Public Health is working to keep people informed and prepared.
Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that the outbreak of the flu was a public health emergency, the School of Public Health has worked tirelessly to provide the community with important informational resources both online and through the media. In addition to providing critical links to the flu information web pages at the CDC and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the school's Center for Health Equality has made available resources on pandemic flu preparations for culturally diverse communities to both the public and media. This emergency preparedness work was part of the center’s National Resource Center on Advancing Emergency Preparedness for Culturally Diverse Communities.
In addition, Dean Marla J. Gold, MD, has been interviewed this week on local radio and television stations about preparedness planning and infectious disease control. She will continue to serve as a public health spokesperson and infectious disease expert during the course of the epidemic.
Dean Gold, together with others at Drexel University and Drexel University College of Medicine, has provided a leadership role in preparedness planning efforts across the university community. The university recently activated the All Hazards Preparedness Task Force. We will maintain constant communications with the university community.
As the only accredited School of Public Health in the Philadelphia region, it is important that we provide accurate and updated information on the constantly evolving swine flu epidemic and other emergency situations. The City of Philadelphia has one of the largest and most active health departments in the United States, and we work closely with them at every step. Together, we will continue to provide emergency preparedness planning and resources across the community during the course of this public health emergency.
