Broward County Florida Prepares For Massive Swine Flu Outbreak This Fall

Broward County officials are drawing up plans for how to handle a massive outbreak of swine flu this fall.

The county and area cities would set up centers where large quantities of drugs and medical supplies, including a vaccine for the H1N1 flu virus, would be distributed.

The points of distribution would be opened if health officials declare a public health emergency and decide to tap the nation’s strategic stockpile of medicine. The Centers for Disease Control has large quantities of medicine to protect the public if there is a terrorist attack, major flu outbreak or disaster severe enough to cause local supplies to run out.

The county expects to have sites ready for potential use by October. The distribution centers would be similar to those set up in the aftermath of Hurricane Wilma in 2005 to distribute water, ice and other supplies to residents.

County commissioners are expected to discuss the flu plans at their meeting Tuesday.