HHS Secretary to Lead Live Webinar on Pandemic-Influenza Preparedness

October 24, 2008 – Please join us for a special edition of the pandemic-preparedness webcast "PlanFirst," which will feature HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt, on October 29, 2008, at 1:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.

Every level of Government and sector of society is responsible for preparing now for an influenza pandemic.  The media buzz around “bird flu” has died down, but the H5NI virus has not.  We must continue to prepare the world for a flu pandemic.
Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched "PlanFirst," a regular series of webcasts to help U.S. States, local communities, employers, faith-based and civic organizations, families and individuals learn more about pandemic planning.

On October 29, 2008, HHS will broadcast a special edition of "PlanFirst," which will feature Secretary Leavitt and a live audience.  The Secretary will provide formal remarks regarding pandemic-planning efforts in the United States, and will then join a roundtable discussion to address our level of readiness and related issues.

Speakers will include the following: 

• The Honorable Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of HHS;
• Bill Raub, Ph.D., Science Advisor to the Secretary, HHS;
• Michael Osterholm, M.D., Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, University of Minnesota; and
• Maggie Fox, Editor-in-Charge for Health and Science, Reuters.

Lark McCarthy will serve as the moderator.

To watch the live broadcast on the Internet, go to PlanFirst Webcasts on Pandemic Influenza (PandemicFlu.gov)

Last revised: October 24, 2008