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What is the government doing now to prepare for a pandemic?

Michael O. Leavitt
Secretary

US Department of Health and Human Services 

We’re monitoring all over the world. Not just the United States but many of our partner nations, over a hundred nations in a consortium to watch for this flu. The sooner we can identify it, the more likelihood is we can contain it. We’re also watching at public health departments all over the United States to make certain that if it comes here, we know it. We’re developing vaccines, stockpiling antivirals like Tamiflu®. We’re working with state and local governments, but most of all, we’re working to encourage families to prepare.

The question isn’t just what will the government do to protect me, it’s what am I doing to protect my family? The thing that's unique about a pandemic is that it happens everywhere at the same time, and everyone needs to have a personal and family and community plan of preparedness.