Is California prepared for swine flu pandemic?
Public health and emergency services officials brief Legislature on plan to address threat

SACRAMENTO – Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez (D-Shafter) and Senator Elaine Alquist (D-San Jose) will hold a joint hearing of their respective committees Thursday afternoon to hear testimony on the state’s emergency plan for proactively addressing and responding to the threat of a swine flu pandemic in the United States.

The Senate Select Committee on Disaster and Emergency Response will team with the Senate Committee on Health, as they hear from officials at the Office of Emergency Services and Department of Public Health on steps being taken now to protect the public.

Last week, when the number of confirmed swine flu cases in the U.S. stood at just seven, Florez called on the Schwarzenegger Administration to communicate to the legislature what plan was being developed to prevent a pandemic.  Within the hour, Schwarzenegger responded by listing a number of areas of concern being addressed.  While Florez was pleased with the rapid reply, some key areas were not covered, such as efforts to screen incoming international airline passengers for signs of swine flu infection. 

On Thursday, Senators Florez and Alquist are looking forward to a more detailed briefing from Administration officials to allay the concerns of California residents.

Thursday’s hearing will be held at 1 p.m. in Room 112 of the State Capitol Building.

** MEDIA ADVISORY ** MEDIA ADVISORY **

WHO:             Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez, D-Shafter; Chair, Senate Select Committee on Disaster and Emergency Response Senator Elaine Alquist, D-San Jose; Chair, Senate Committee on Health CA Office of Emergency Services and Department of Public Health

WHAT:           Hearing: “International Swine Flu Outbreak: Assessing California’s Preparedness and Response to this Potential Flu Pandemic”

WHEN:           Thursday, April 30, 2009; 1:00 p.m.

WHERE:         State Capitol, Room 112; Sacramento, CA

For Immediate Release                          Jennifer Hanson
April 27, 2009                                        916-651-4016