Calm, not panic, should be the response to H1N1 influenza.

This point was emphasized by Jeff Pollard, Department of Public Health, District 1-1, during the Pan Flu Committee Thursday morning at the EMA Meeting Room, Cedartown.

Pollard has been the primary speaker at similar meetings in the 10-county region he represents.

These were scheduled to give local agencies, public safety and community leaders the latest available information on the H1N1 flu.

Malindy Ely, nurse manager, Polk County Health Department, said pandemic does not mean panic but that it is widespread.

"It's just not just for the birds (bird flu)," she said. "We have held pandemic preparedness meetings for the past several months so we have a plan in place. However, this plan should be reviewed, changed and updated to meet specific needs."

Pollard compared the events of the past few weeks to a hurricane. He said when the forecast goes out, people should be prepared to lessen the expected toll when the storm hits land.

He focused on the series of worldwide events that has unfolded since the first case of the H1N1 virus was reported.

According to Pollard, the first case may have caught everyone by surprise but that is no longer true. Public health went into action and knows the trends based on communications of a disease (animal to human, human to human).

“It is time for calm, preparedness and prevention,” he said. “We are not formally in any type of emergency response in Georgia.”

He said the state has received 25 percent of the federal antiviral stockpile with a portion being sent from the Atlanta staging area into regions and distributed to hospitals.

Pollard advised: Know the facts and know how it affects you and your family.

There are now websites where information can easily be obtained by any person with Internet connection, according to Pollard. One of those referenced is http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/update.htm

Randall Chupp, deputy chief, Fire & Emergency Services, Rockmart, said he often gets questions but now has information that will provide answers.

Donna Rogers, Polk School District, said she would share the information with faculty at Eastside Elementary, Rockmart.