Pandemic Flu Preparedness Summit to Start Tomorrow

---News Advisory---

WHEN:          Wednesday, October 11, 2006

                        Thursday, October 12. 2006

                        8:00 a.m.

WHERE:       Hartford Hilton Hotel

                        315 Trumbull Street in Downtown Hartford

WHAT:           Two-day pandemic influenza planning summit

WHO:             City of Hartford

                        Department of Health and Human Services

                        (In collaboration with the Office of the Mayor)

More than 60 key officials, including department heads and leaders from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, are scheduled to attend this important planning exercise. 

The goal of the workshop is to ensure that our community is prepared against avian influenza epidemic, pandemic human influenza and other emerging diseases.  “While significant progress has been made in many areas of emergency preparedness, now there is an urgent need for all key players to work together in developing and testing a solid and practical influenza preparedness plan.  This issue needs to be treated seriously and we need to be ready,” said Ramon Rojano, Director of Heath & Human Services.

For more information, contact:  Ramon Rojano, Director of Health and Human Services, at (860) 543-8860, the Epidemiology/Public Health Preparedness Program at (860) 543-8800, or the Connecticut Department of Public Health at (860) 509-7994