State conducts swine flu summit
SEATAC -- From the campus of WSU to a recent convention in Seattle, suspected swine flu cases are exploding across Washington.
In the latest outbreak, a number of people who attended a Penny Arcade Expo at the convention center say they are sick.
With all the recent suspected cases, the ballroom of the Sea-Tac Marriott became a war room in the fight against swine flu in our state, where top government, health care, and business leaders learned how to fight the virus for this upcoming fall season.
"All of you in attendance today are critical for us to be able to meet the needs of our communities as we move forward," said Gov. Chris Gregoire.
Even the state's military is on guard.
"For example we have a number of medical personnel in the National Guard," said Major General Timothy Lowenberg. "So if we ever reach a point where there is a critical shortage being able to administer vaccines voluntarily to those persons who what them."
The first batch of swine flu vaccine should arrive by the middle of next month, but not everyone will get those first shots.
"That shipment that we will get will be very targeted," said Mary Selecky with the State Department of Health. "We want to make sure that our kids, our pregnant women and our health care workers who actually work with sick patients get that first attention."
The state has already spent $700,000 to buy nearly 150,000 doses of anti-flu medication like Tamiflu.
The State School Superintendent is also getting a plan together for schools.
"For parents, make a plan for if your children do get sick," said state school superintendent Randy Dorn. "We do not want sick children coming to school. And even if we do have sick children at school we are going to do our best ability to isolate those students until their parents can come and pick them up."
The health department also pointed to the outbreak on the WSU campus in the last week that had 2,500 people report feeling sick.
"We can expect what we've seen happen in Pullman to happen in communities across the state," Gregoire said.
That's why it was critical for leaders to plan their attack Tuesday.
In the latest outbreak, a number of people who attended a Penny Arcade Expo at the convention center say they are sick.
With all the recent suspected cases, the ballroom of the Sea-Tac Marriott became a war room in the fight against swine flu in our state, where top government, health care, and business leaders learned how to fight the virus for this upcoming fall season.
"All of you in attendance today are critical for us to be able to meet the needs of our communities as we move forward," said Gov. Chris Gregoire.
Even the state's military is on guard.
"For example we have a number of medical personnel in the National Guard," said Major General Timothy Lowenberg. "So if we ever reach a point where there is a critical shortage being able to administer vaccines voluntarily to those persons who what them."
The first batch of swine flu vaccine should arrive by the middle of next month, but not everyone will get those first shots.
"That shipment that we will get will be very targeted," said Mary Selecky with the State Department of Health. "We want to make sure that our kids, our pregnant women and our health care workers who actually work with sick patients get that first attention."
The state has already spent $700,000 to buy nearly 150,000 doses of anti-flu medication like Tamiflu.
The State School Superintendent is also getting a plan together for schools.
"For parents, make a plan for if your children do get sick," said state school superintendent Randy Dorn. "We do not want sick children coming to school. And even if we do have sick children at school we are going to do our best ability to isolate those students until their parents can come and pick them up."
The health department also pointed to the outbreak on the WSU campus in the last week that had 2,500 people report feeling sick.
"We can expect what we've seen happen in Pullman to happen in communities across the state," Gregoire said.
That's why it was critical for leaders to plan their attack Tuesday.