Cabinet Members Advise Government And Private Cooperation To Combat H1N1

By Laura Woodhead – Talk Radio News Service

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Department Of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said that it was imperative that the private sector and the government work together to stop the spread of the H1N1 strain which is expected to make a resurgence in mid September.

“This a real shared responsibility. The federal government is doing our part,” said Sebelius during a joint news conference Wednesday. “But we really rely on the private sector to make sure that Americans are as safe and secure as possible.”

“A little planning now will help ensure that our economy withstands whatever the H1N1 throws us this fall,” said Commerce Secretray Gary Locke.

Secretary Napolitano warned against failing to take immediate action to halt the virus.

“Lets not just play wait and see, lets be proactive,” said Napolitano. “We are being proactive at the level we are at, but now we are asking the business community to be proactive too.”

The new guidelines outline how businesses can help prevent the spread of disease within their workforce, through steps that include enforcing cleanliness standards, encouraging employees to get their regular flu shots and putting plans in place to accommodate the expected absences caused by H1N1.

Secretary Locke said that during the outbreak it would be essential for employers to send their employees home if they showed symptoms and allow them to take time off to recover.

“In America we love to praise puritan work ethic,” said Locke. “But this fall it would serve the country better to praise common sense and responsibility.”

Responding to the claim that the H1N1 vaccine would not be ready in time for the upcoming flu season, Secretary Sebelius said that production is on schedule.

“We are very much on target,” Sebelius said. However, she added, “we never anticipated that all of the vaccine would be available day one, it will be on a role out basis.”

To view the guidelines and for more information of preventing the spread of H1N1 visit www.flu.gov