Pandemic Influenza Planning in New York City

Excerpt

Planning for an outbreak of pandemic influenza is a complex undertaking because of the potential impact on not only health care and public health, but also because of the need for greater societal preparedness. Coping with a pandemic in a large city presents additional challenges. Close living conditions and reliance on crowded mass transportation systems may facilitate the spread of influenza virus. The potential tidal wave of ill persons seeking care may overwhelm already overcrowded fragile health care delivery systems in many cities. Finally, communication plans need to be more robust to reach the diverse ethnic populations of cities and must take into account vulnerable populations. …