MIAMI –
Thirty thousand influenza personal protection kits departed Charleston AFB May 8 onboard a C-17 destined for Belize, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
With the threat of the influenza H1N1 virus raising concerns in the region, the U.S. has worked in coordination with their government officials to identify countries in need of pandemic influenza preparedness supplies.
The H1N1 virus is most prevalent in Mexico, particularly Mexico City. As of May 10, the Center for Disease Control reported 2,532 laboratory confirmed cases of the virus throughout 44 states. The Department of Defense and all segments of the U.S. government are working along with their international partners to lessen the effect of the H1N1 virus.
U.S. Southern Command, headquartered in Miami, prioritized the C-17 mission as a critical component of the U.S. government's international pandemic influenza preparedness efforts.
The aircraft was scheduled to deliver approximately 5,000 kits to healthcare officials in each of the six countries within a 48-hour window. Local officials will distribute the equipment to first responders for use in the event of an outbreak of the H1N1 virus.
Flu viruses are spread mainly from person to person through the coughing or sneezing of people with influenza. People may also become infected by touching something with flu viruses on it and then touching their mouth or nose.
Each personal protection kit includes safety goggles, disposable overalls, gloves, shoe covers, aprons, infectious waste bags with biohazard symbols and disposable respirators capable of screening 95 percent of particles as small as 0.3 micron.
The donated shipment, valued at approximately $225,000, was transported to Charleston AFB from a DOD warehouse in Albany, Ga.
This SOUTHCOM mission supports the ongoing international preparedness efforts of the U.S. government, led by the U.S. Agency for International Development.
Based on the existing threat of an influenza pandemic and in close coordination with other U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of State, USAID has mobilized critical resources to help control the spread of the H1N1 virus.
The May 8 shipment is a supplement to the 100,000 personal protective equipment kits, valued at more than $973,000, sent to Mexico City by USAID May 2. HHS has also consigned 400,000 courses of Tamiflu, valued at approximately $10 million, to the Mexican government to treat confirmed influenza H1N1 cases, as well as vulnerable individuals. In addition, USAID has committed $2.5 million to the Pan American Health Organization and $2.5 million to World Health Organization for influenza H1N1 response activities in Latin America and the Caribbean.