Pandemic Flu Summit
Mid-Ohio Valley Pandemic Flu Summit
at West Virginia University - Parkersburg
March 10, 2006
How would the region be affected if a pandemic influenza outbreak occurred?
More than 300 local and state officials, health and emergency management agencies, business and community partners, and private sector representatives are expected to attend a Pandemic Influenza Summit being held Friday (March 10) at West Virginia University at Parkersburg to discuss how to prepare for such a threat.
The local summit is sponsored by the state of West Virginia and the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department in cooperation with WVU Parkersburg. One of several summits being held throughout the state, the one-day session is designed to raise awareness about the importance of planning for a pandemic flu outbreak or other health-related threat.
A pandemic is caused by a new widespread flu virus that causes severe illness and is easily passed from human to human, noted Richard Wittberg, executive director of the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department.
"The summit will address the need for awareness of the potentially local impact of a pandemic and the importance of planning for such a possibility," he added.
Among those presenting at the summit in addition to Wittberg will be James Spears, secretary, WV Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety; Dr. Catherine Slemp, executive director, Division of Threat Preparedness, WV Department of Health and Human Resources; Jimmy Gianato, director, Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management/WV Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety; Roger Bibbee, Wood County Office of Emergency Management, and Martha Hardman, executive director, quality and patient safety, Roane General Hospital. Serving as moderator will be Greg Smith of Camden-Clark Memorial Hospital.
Topics will include "Calling the State to Action"; Putting Pandemics in Perspective"; "Pandemic Flu from the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Perspective"; "Overview of Emergency Response in West Virginia," and "Hospital Planning Issues."
Invitations to participate in the summit were sent to area business and government leaders, legislators, schools, hospitals, churches, businesses, emergency services and law enforcement personnel, day-care centers and area media.
Local Speaker Presentations: (PDF)
Emergency Response - Roger Bibbee
Local Public Health Response - Tim Wickam
Hospital Concerns Related to Pandemic Influenza - Martha Hardman