Pandemic Flu Planning Resources

                                                 Faith Based Community Checklist (PDF)

Easter, 2006

Dear friend of the Wisconsin Council of Churches,

Pandemic (adj): occurring over a wide geographic area and affecting an exceptionally high proportion of the population.

Last week I attended Governor Doyle’s Summit on Pandemic Influenza here in Madison.  This statewide gathering of public health professionals, local, state and federal government officials, business leaders and the religious community served as a wake-up call for Wisconsin to be adequately prepared for a pandemic outbreak of the flu.

While the so-called “bird flu” which has received such widespread media attention is the most immediate concern, I learned that flu pandemics are indeed a fact of life. 

Over the last 300 years, there have been ten documented flu pandemics, with three in the last century: 1918, 1957 and 1968.  While the last two pandemics had relatively minor public health consequences, the 1918 outbreak was deadly. 

Public health officials at the Summit told us that given historical patterns, we are overdue for another flu pandemic. There is, of course, no current flu pandemic outbreak.   However, we must face the difficult fact here in Wisconsin that it is not a question of “if” there will be a pandemic outbreak in the future, but “when.” 

I was impressed with the level of concern raised by public officials, and the degree of collaboration between local and state and federal levels of government in preparing for the inevitable.   Measures of preparedness include increasing global disease monitoring, assuring adequate stockpiles of vaccines and anti-viral medications, along with providing clear and consistent mechanisms to communicate with and educate the public.

I also learned that while planning and preparation must take place at all levels of government, the most important work happens at the local level, and that’s where we in the religious community can play an important part.   

The entire community must be prepared—churches, schools, local health officials, public safety officers, and the like—both to help prevent the spread of the flu and to help manage an outbreak when one occurs.

As I listened to the sobering presentations at the Governor’s summit, I thought about the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth, who paid special attention to people who were ill.    His concern was not only to make individual sick people well, but also for the health and wholeness of all of God’s children.  

That old question, “What would Jesus do?” would serve us well as we consider our partnership with the public and private sectors to prepare for the next flu pandemic.  Every church in the State of Wisconsin has an important role to play.

I can think of no more important role for the Wisconsin Council of Churches than in partnering with both public health officials and with congregations as together we seek to sustain the health and wholeness of our communities.  I hope you will continue to support this work by sending your generous Easter gift today! 

Yours in Christ,

Scott D. Anderson

Executive Director