U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, MI-08, said today he continues to monitor the developing swine flu outbreak with local and state health officials and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), including the suspected case in Livingston County.

“All of our families are concerned about our children, young or expectant mothers, and the senior citizens in our lives,” Rogers said. “They are often the most vulnerable and the most at risk of serious consequences during an outbreak of any disease.

“Thankfully, it still seems to be moving slowly in the U.S., but we must take all necessary precautions to protect our families.”

Rogers recommends that citizens visit the CDC website to get a full report on the swine flu and its symptoms, how to treat the flu, and how to prevent it. The information is at www.cdc.gov/swineflu.

“Keeping ourselves safe from an outbreak of this type is based on following the guidelines provided by the CDC,” said Rogers, who serves on the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health. “Thankfully, the federal government has a stockpile of vaccines, including Tamiflu, to help treat and prevent the spread of any outbreak.”

Rogers’ bi-partisan 2006 legislation established a framework for working on vaccines and other methods of preventing a bioterrorism attack or pandemic outbreak. The measure, co-sponsored with California Democrat Rep. Anna Eshoo, created the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

BARDA established a single point of federal authority for advanced research and development of medical countermeasures, including drugs and vaccines, to respond to bioterrorism and natural disease outbreaks. It also contains a component that motivates academic researchers, drug and vaccine manufacturers and other potential partners to commit substantial resources to accelerate development of medical countermeasures and bring new and improved products to the market more quickly.

“Having this protective safety net in place means the U.S. is prepared to deal with an outbreak of the kind we face today, and it means that the partnership between government and the private sector is working,” Rogers said.

“Our Livingston County neighbor, who may have contracted swine flu during a trip to Texas and the border with Mexico, hopefully will have a swift recovery,” Rogers said. “With the vaccines and treatments available today and the stockpile created under BARDA, patients across the nation will have access to the best possible treatment.”

Rogers will participate Thursday in a Health Subcommittee hearing in which the swine flu outbreak will be discussed with CDC officials and other experts.