By Maria Carter
Kansas City, MO – Local and state health agencies in Missouri will receive $1.9 million to come up with plans to respond to a flu pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is funding planning efforts. Mary Kay Hager of the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services says right now there is no threat in this country from the bird flu but the money will help the department prepare.
Mary Kay Hager: "We are taking the precautions that we need to and doing the planning that should be done in case the virus would mutate and could be transmitted human to human and that's what we want to be prepared for."
More than 80% of the money will head to local public health agencies to designate locations where anti-viral drugs could be handed out and come up with other plans to prevent the spread of the flu. The money is intended for a widespread flu pandemic not seasonal flu outbreaks.