A pandemic is a global disease outbreak. A flu pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus emerges for which people have little or no immunity, and for which there is no vaccine. The disease spreads easily person-to-person, causes serious illness, and can sweep across the country and around the world in very short time.
The effects of a pandemic can be lessened if preparations are made ahead of time. Your help is needed!

Description:
It is difficult to predict when the next influenza pandemic will occur or how severe it will be. Wherever and whenever a pandemic starts, everyone around the world is at risk. Countries might, through measures such as border closures and travel restrictions, delay arrival of the virus, but cannot stop it.

The Berks County Pandemic Advisory Council, a local task force consists of approximately 60 people comprised of: Commissioners,Emergency Management personnel, Police, Mayors, Representatives from Berks County Hospitals, MH/MR, the IU, the United Way and community activists participating in 7 subgroups to identify the needs of our community and create a unified plan to deal with the next pandemic.

The 7 Subgroups are: Business, Communication, Education, Health Services, Transportation, Security, and Volunteer

Once the plan is developed it will be evaluated via a desk top exercise and modified as necessary before it is submitted to the County commissioners for their final approval.The approved plan will then be reviewed and updated periodically by the Berks County Pandemic Advisory Council executive committee .

Contact person: Louise Grim, (610) 779-1936, (email)

Address:

Court Street Reading, PA 19601 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.flutoolbox.com