DHS news release

Aug. 18, 2006

Contact: Tom Towslee, 503-559-0652

Media advisory

Pandemic flu planning workshop in Portland

Who: State and local government, private businesses and other entities that would need to respond to an influenza pandemic.

When: Wednesday, August 23. Opening session is at 9 a.m.

Where: Oregon Convention Center, 777 N.E. Martin Luther King Blvd., Portland. Meeting is in the Portland Ballroom on the third level (south end of Convention Center).

What: This workshop builds upon planning efforts that began in March with Oregon's Pandemic Influenza Summit.

Issues to be discussed include: coordinating health care, caring for vulnerable populations, allocating scarce resources such as anti-viral medications and vaccines, business continuity planning and maintaining critical community systems such as fire, police, schools and transportation.

Details: Media Q&A from 10 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. in Room E148 (lobby level).

This time has been set aside for reporters to talk with key decision makers and planning partners:

• Susan Allan, M.D., state public health director in the Oregon Department of Human Services Public Health Division
  
• David Houghton, R.N., M.P.H., co-chair, Conference of Local Health Official
  
• Lauren Danahy, R.N., compliance and business continuity manager, Intel Corporation
  
• Joe Finkbonner, executive director of the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board