SACRAMENTO (February 15, 2007) – A new television public service announcement (PSA) is hitting the airwaves to advise Californians of actions they can take now to prepare for a potential influenza pandemic, State Public Health Officer Dr. Mark Horton announced today.  The PSA was produced by the California Department of Health Services (CDHS) and Kaiser Permanente.

"Currently, there is no evidence anywhere in the United States of a pandemic or of the deadly strain of bird flu that has caused human illnesses and deaths in Asia," Horton said.  "However, there are actions that Californians can take now that will not only help protect them from this rare strain of bird flu, but also help protect them from seasonal influenza, which is here now, and other respiratory infections throughout the year."

The PSA, which was produced in English, Spanish and Cantonese, advises Californians to do the following:

• Wash your hands frequently.
• Cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough.
• Stay home if you're sick.
• Get a flu shot.  (It will not protect you from the rare strain of bird flu that has been found in Asia, but it will keep you healthy.)

"Preventive measures are the key to heading off what is potentially one of the biggest health care threats to our nation," said Dr. David J. Witt, chief of infectious disease at Kaiser Permanente's San Rafael Medial Center, who is featured in the PSA.

The PSA is one of three produced in preparation for a potential influenza pandemic.  The second PSA provides advice on what to do if a rare strain of bird flu that has the potential to become a human pandemic is found in birds in the United States.  The third PSA provides advice on what to do if evidence is found that an influenza pandemic has spread to the United States.  The latter two PSAs will not be released unless these events occur.

The California Broadcasters Association will be distributing the PSA to member stations statewide.

The PSA is the latest activity in California's ongoing efforts to strengthen its preparedness for a potential influenza pandemic.  The current state budget dedicates $214 million to improve the ability of hospitals, clinics and emergency response agencies to respond to a pandemic.  The funds provide for the following:

• Medical supplies and equipment for more than 20,000 hospital beds for alternate care sites.
• 2,400 ventilators.  To date, 1,200 ventilators have been received and are being stored until needed.
• 50 million masks for health care workers.  Of this total, 20 million masks have been received and are being stored until needed.
• Three mobile field hospitals.  The Emergency Medical Services Authority is soliciting proposals to build and equip these mobile field hospitals.
• Antiviral medicines.  CDHS is in the process of securing enough antivirals to treat nearly 25 percent of the state's population - enough to meet the state's needs in a pandemic.  Of the 3.7 million doses of antivirals ordered by the state, 3.3 million have arrived.  Another 5.3 million doses are available, if needed, from the federal government.

In addition to these purchases to strengthen the state's surge capacity if faced with an influenza pandemic, CDHS has taken the following actions:

• Collaborated with the California Department of Education on the development of a tool kit and influenza pandemic planning for schools and potential school closures.
• Developed a brochure and fact sheets on influenza pandemic, isolation of individuals who are ill and quarantine of those who may become ill.  The fact sheets have been translated into 12 threshold languages.
• Conducted risk communication trainings on influenza pandemic with local health departments.  More are scheduled this month and through the spring.

The PSA can be viewed by visiting the CDHS Web site at www.dhs.ca.gov.

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