This program is co-sponsored by the Upper Midwest Center for Public Health Preparedenss, and features Ms. Hosmanek who currently serves as facilitator for the University of Iowa Pandemic Influenza Task Force and also played an instrumental role in the ASPH/CDC Pandemic Influenza Collaborative Group which developed the forthcoming “Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Resource Kit for Academic Institutions.” She will share information and resources available to academic institutions to support their pandemic influenza preparedness efforts, and lessons learned during the development and execution of the April 2007 tabletop exercise designed to prompt rapid decision-making and test the current Pandemic Plan at the University of Iowa.

This program will highlight the importance of developing local preparedness initiatives to manage animal emergencies. The speaker will describe the human resources potentially involved in animal emergency preparedness and response activities, and the benefits to their integration into the local emergency management system.