San Diego, CA
The nation and the world are facing the very real risk of a deadly influenza pandemic. The immediate concern is focused on the deadly avian flu virus (H5N1) that is spreading rapidly in Asia, Europe and Africa through migratory and domestic birds. To date, confirmed human cases have been caused only by exposure to infected birds, with 144 cases of avian flu confirmed in humans, and half of them fatal. But the major threat will come if the virus mutates to a strain that is easily transmitted through human contact, a threat that public health experts warn could become a reality within the next few years.
The impact of such a pandemic would be massive in its severity and scope. The Department of Health and Human Services has estimated that 25-35 percent of the U.S. population could become sick and that millions could die.
In the event of an outbreak, healthcare workers, firefighters, police, emergency service workers and other first responders will be on the front lines of responding to this emergency. If these workers are expected to answer the call, if and when an outbreak occurs, it is imperative that the necessary resources and equipment are immediately available to protect them from this deadly virus.
Last November, the Bush Administration released its Pandemic Influenza Plan to prepare for a pandemic outbreak. The Plan appropriately recognizes the importance of the development of an effective vaccine which currently does not exist. But it fails to provide for even basic occupational safety and health protections for health care workers and first responders. There are no requirements for appropriate respiratory protection, nor efforts underway to stockpile the needed equipment that would protect first responders.
AFSCME, joined by the AFL-CIO and other unions, petitioned the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in December to take emergency action to require employers to put in place comprehensive measures to protect heath care workers and other responders in the event of a pandemic outbreak. But to date, there has been no acknowledgement or response.
Hurricane Katrina exposed the devastation, misery and death that results when our government is unprepared for and does not adequately respond to a major disaster. The country’s lack of preparedness for a pandemic outbreak is another disaster in the making, particularly for our nation’s first responders.
The AFL-CIO calls on the Bush Administration and the Congress to act now, to put in place the measures needed to protect healthcare workers and first responders from a pandemic influenza that will allow them to do their jobs in serving the public in the event of a national health emergency.