Federal Planning & Response Activities

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Overview National Strategy U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Activities

Other Federal Agency Activities For Federal Employees

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Overview

The National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza, issued by President Bush November 1, 2005, guides our nation's preparedness and response to an influenza pandemic, with the intent of (1) stopping, slowing or otherwise limiting the spread of a pandemic to the United States; (2) limiting the domestic spread of a pandemic, and mitigating disease, suffering and death; and (3) sustaining infrastructure and mitigating impact to the economy and the functioning of society. The Strategy charges the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services with leading the federal pandemic preparedness.

The Implementation Plan for the National Strategy, released by the President on May 3, 2006, translates the Strategy into more than 300 actions for Federal departments and agencies and sets clear expectations for State and local governments and other non-Federal entities. It also provides guidance for all Federal departments and agencies on the development of their own plans.

National Strategy

• National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza (The White House)
  Outlines responsibilities that individuals, industry, state and local governments, and the federal government have for preparing and responding to a pandemic
• Implementation Plan Fact Sheet [En Español] (The White House)
  Provides brief overview of the 234-page plan
  • Implementation Plan for the National Strategy (The White House)
    The Implementation Plan identifies the critical steps that must be taken immediately and over the coming months and years to address the threat of an influenza pandemic. It assigns specific responsibilities to Departments and Agencies across the Federal Government, and includes measures of progress and timelines for implementation. It also provides initial guidance for State, local, and tribal entities, businesses, schools and universities, communities, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), on the development of their institutional plans and provides initial guidance for individuals and families on ways that they can prepare for a pandemic.
  • Press Briefing by Scott McClellan and Homeland Security Advisor Fran Townsend (The White House)

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Activities

• Pandemic Planning Update II (PDF) (3.43MB), June 29, 2006
  This report provides status updates on five key planning areas: monitoring and surveillance, vaccines, antiviral medications, state and local preparedness, and communications.
• Pandemic Planning Update (PDF) (1.09MB), March 13, 2006
  This report provides status on five key planning areas: monitoring and surveillance, vaccines, antiviral medications, state and local preparedness, and communications.
• HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan Fact Sheet
  Provides brief overview of the 395-page plan
• HHS Pandemic Influenza Plan

Supplies guidance to national, state, and local policy makers and health departments, outlining key roles and responsibilities during a pandemic and specifying preparedness needs and opportunities.
• Computer Model Examines Strategies to Mitigate Potential U.S. Flu Pandemic (National Institute of General Medical Sciences)
  Read about research, supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), that uses computer modeling to predict results of different actions to reduce the number of cases and slow the spread of pandemic flu. Includes video clip of two scenarios.
• HHS Awards Contracts Totaling More Than $1 Billion To Develop Cell-Based Influenza Vaccine
• FDA Approves New Laboratory Test to Detect Human Infections with Avian Influenza A/H5 Viruses
• HHS Assists States With Another Antiviral Drug Purchase
• HHS Assists States With Antiviral Drug Purchases
• HHS Buys Additional Antiviral Medication as Preparations for Potential Influenza Pandemic Continue
• HHS Buys Additional Vaccine As Preparations For Potential Influenza Pandemic Continue
• HHS Buys Vaccine and Antivirals in Preparation for a Potential Influenza Pandemic
• Terrorism and Other Public Health Emergencies: A Reference Guide for the Media
  How to quickly and clearly communicate terrorism and public health emergency messages to the public
• Questions and Answers on the Executive Order Adding Potentially Pandemic Influenza Viruses to the List of Quarantinable Diseases (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
  Understand what the President's Executive Order says through a series of questions and answers.

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Other Federal Agency Activities

• Avian Influenza (U.S. Department of State)
  Provides overview of State Department actions
• Avian Influenza Response (U.S. Agency for International Development)
  Gives information on assistance provided to affected countries
• Pandemic Planning Report (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
  This report provides information on the progress of domestic and international monitoring of birds for H5N1 and preparation for the possibility of H5N1 in birds reaching the United States.
• Avian Influenza (Bird Flu) (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
  Supplies reports of efforts to protect the United States against highly transmissible forms of avian influenza, via trade restrictions, monitoring, and other actions
• Avian Influenza: Protecting the United States (PDF - 4.05 MB) (U.S. Department of Agriculture) [PDF en Español - 228KB]
  Describes two types of bird flu and how the USDA is working with agencies nationally and internationally to watch for bird flu.
• Avian Influenza (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
  Provides access to online resources on avian influenza including reports, fact sheets, and a RSS feed created from various news sources
• Avian Flu (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
  Provides an overview of Environmental Protection Agency's actions.
• Avian Influenza (U.S.G.S. National Wildlife Health Center)
  Provides information on avian influenza in migratory birds and the Department of the Interior plans to protect the health of employees and the 450 million people who visit Department-managed lands each year
• Emergency Planning: Pandemic (U.S. Department of Education)
  Provides tools to assist with disseminating health information, planning for staff and student absences, and maintaining a learning environment during a Pandemic.
• Pandemic Influenza Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Guide for Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources (PDF) (3.91MB) (U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
  Provides contingency planning process for a pandemic. Also provides business planners with sector-specific and common pandemic information planning variables keyed to escalating disaster phases.
• National Response Plan (U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
  Contains a comprehensive all-hazards approach to enhance the ability of the United States to manage domestic incidents. Forms the basis of how the federal government coordinates with state, local, and tribal governments and the private sector during incidents.
• Avian and Pandemic Influenza (U.S. Department of Defense)
  Provides information about avian flu, including recent outbreaks, Department of Defense involvement in dealing with avian flu, and how it could affect servicemember and civilian health
• Pandemic Flu (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)
  Lists VA resources on pandemic flu
• Pandemic Flu Planning Resources (U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
  Provides planning resources to assist first responders in preparing for a national flu pandemic.
• National Avian Influenza Surveillance Information (U.S. Geological Survey)
  View a web site showing current information about wild bird sampling for early detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in the United States

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For Federal Employees

• Influenza and Federal Agency Response (U.S. Office of Personnel Management)
  OPM is developing and updating guidance and to prepare and protect the Federal workforce should a pandemic influenza outbreak occur.
• Federal Employee Guidance for Human Capital Management Policy for a Pandemic Influenza (U.S. Office of Personnel Management)
  OPM has prepared guidance and information on the programs and flexibilities available to Federal employees to help deal with the effects of a potential pandemic outbreak
• Federal Agency Managers Guidance for Human Capital Management Policy for a Pandemic Influenza (U.S. Office of Personnel Management)
  OPM has prepared guidance and information on the programs and flexibilities available to Federal managers to help deal with the effects of a potential pandemic outbreak
• Federal Agency Managers Guidance for Human Capital Management Policy for a Pandemic Influenza: Telework (U.S. Office of Personnel Management)
  OPM provides information to Federal managers and employees about incorporating telework into planning for a pandemic health crisis.
• Federal Agency Human Capital Planning for Pandemic Influenza (PDF) (2.3MB) (U.S. Office of Personnel Management)
  All OPM policy guidance issued since August 3, 2006, regarding pandemic influenza continuity of operations, as well as checklists and agency planning examples.
• Final Rule: Absence and Leave (PDF version - 91KB) U.S. Office of Personnel Management)
  OPM removes the requirement for a minimum sick leave balance in order to use the maximum amount of sick leave provided for family care and bereavement purposes during a pandemic.

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