Pandemic Flu Response Training in Louisiana

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Office of Public Health has scheduled a regional training exercise to help the parishes in the DHH Region IX community prepare to respond for a future influenza outbreak. These parishes include Caldwell, East and West Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, Lincoln, Livingston, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, St. Helena, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Tensas, Union and Washington.

The training exercise is scheduled for Thursday, January 18, 2007, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Hotel 501 N. Highway 190, Covington, LA. Also the training exercise is scheduled for Wednesday, January 17, 2007, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Monroe Civic Center, 401 Lea Joyner Expressway, Monroe, LA. Members of the news media are invited to attend any or all of the exercise.

The trainings feature a discussion-based scenario designed to educate communities about pandemic influenza and test the existing emergency response plans. In addition, exercises such as this help identify local and regional partners who will be critical should a widespread flu outbreak ever occur.

Those invited to the training exercise include business and industry leaders, safety professionals, faith-based organizations, tribal organizations and other federal, state and local agencies involved in pandemic influenza planning.