FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 12, 2007
DHEC Region 8 Public Health office offering presentations on pandemic influenza
BEAUFORT - Public health departments throughout South Carolina are offering free presentations on pandemic influenza to help businesses, churches, schools and other groups prepare should such a calamity strike, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control announced today.
"Every year, influenza kills approximately 36,000 people in this country," said Matt Petrofes, public health director for DHEC Region 8, which includes Beaufort, Colleton, Hampton and Jasper counties. "If a pandemic does occur, those numbers could be much higher; we need to be prepared."
Petrofes said an influenza pandemic happens when a new and unknown strain of the virus emerges and can be easily passed from one person to another, even in the cleanest of conditions. Although no strain like that exists now, scientists continue to watch a form of avian influenza now in parts of Asia, Africa and Europe. While the H5N1 bird flu could become capable of making many people sick, sparking a pandemic, DHEC believes education can help slow the illness spread.
"A pandemic will affect every community and every persons life, Petrofes said. Knowledge and planning before an influenza pandemic hits are crucial. There are ideas and recommendations in these presentations each person can use to best protect themselves and their loved ones."
Contact DHEC Region 8 at (843) 525-7603 to arrange a pandemic influenza presentation for your business or group. For additional information about pandemic influenza and planning resources, visit http://www.scdhec.gov/panflu.
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For more information:
Nick Davidson - (843) 525-4028
E-mail davidsne@dhec.sc.gov
or
Jim Beasley - (803) 898-7769
E-mail beaslejc@dhec.sc.gov