STEVE REEVES, Fort Jackson Leader
FORT JACKSON, S.C. -- Fort Jackson leadership is ramping up its contingency plans in case a massive outbreak of H1N1 hits the post later this year.
Representatives from agencies across Fort Jackson attended a "tabletop" exercise Monday morning in the Emergency Operations Center.
The exercise signaled a change in Fort Jackson's preparations for an outbreak of H1N1 as the post switches from a reactive to a proactive posture.
"None of us can predict how bad or how mild this will be," said Col. Jeffrey Sanderson, Fort Jackson's chief of staff. "What we can do is control how we prepare for this."
Sanderson said he anticipates one of the most difficult aspects of any outbreak on post is getting an accurate count of the number of personnel available to work each day and making sure there are enough healthy Soldiers and civilian employees to keep Fort Jackson functioning.
"Fort Jackson is so interrelated," Sanderson said. "It's not just about a Soldier in training. It's also a contractor supporting that Soldier, a cadre training the Soldier and our civilian workforce."
The H1N1 flu strain first emerged last year in Mexico. It quickly spread worldwide, resulting in the first flu pandemic being declared in more than 40 years. The initial outbreak killed more than 500 people in the United States but was not as bad as feared, though health officials believe a second outbreak is probable and could be worse this time.
The most likely time for an outbreak will be when Soldiers are returning to Fort Jackson from block leave at the end of the Christmas and New Year's holidays, Sanderson said.
He said tracking the number of cadre, civilian workers and Soldiers in training who are sick will be of paramount importance.
Sanderson said he is confident that Fort Jackson will be ready in the event of an outbreak.
"We have a pretty solid plan now," Sanderson said.
Col. Nancy Hughes, commander of Moncrief Army Community Hospital, said between 1,000 and 2,500 cases of seasonal and H1N1 flu are expected at Fort Jackson.
"We're hoping to keep it to a 35 percent increase over last year," Hughes said.
Hughes said an additional 5,000 seasonal flu shots have been ordered for Fort Jackson.
Fort Jackson has already identified a location where more than 3,000 infected personnel could be kept isolated in case of a flu outbreak.
There are also preparations under way to administer seasonal flu shots beginning in October, as well as H1N1 immunizations, if they are available.
Maj. Tom Sherbert, Installation Emergency Medical Officer, said the post has to be prepared if a pandemic happens.
"There is an assumption that this thing is coming back around," Sherbert said.
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