Services That Aid Pandemic Preparedness

Nyles Druckman, vice president, medical assistance, International SOS (Philadelphia, PA, USA). "Since the specific virus that will cause the next pandemic will not be known until after the pandemic begins, a vaccine cannot be produced in advance. Even when the pandemic occurs, the virus is identified, and vaccine production begins, production limitations mean that only limited quantities will initially be available. For these reasons, preparation and surveillance are critical to an effective response to a pandemic.”

International SOS has a global network of telephone assistance centers, clinics, and offices that can offer information on the development and spread of avian flu and its potential to become a global pandemic. The company keeps in close contact with the World Health Organization (Geneva, Switzerland) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA), and other national and local health authorities.

International SOS offers information on the outbreak of avian flu on its website. A second level on the website is available only to clients and contains more details on pandemic preparedness. A highly researched document available to clients is designed to help them develop specific preparedness plans, by offering advice on such items as infection control and the use of antiviral drugs. The company currently has more than 4,000 professionals operating in over 60 countries.





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