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Lawmakers reconsider preparations for avian flu outbreak
By Chelsea Rice March 29, 2007...After failing to pass a bill aimed at preparing Massachusetts for a potential avian flu pandemic last legislative session, Massachusetts lawmakers reintroduced the bill yesterday at the State House. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge), would allocate $36.5 million in funding for preparation efforts and also provide liability protection for volunteers who would administer aid to the more than 1 million people who could be affected in an outbreak. Of the funding, $13.8 million would go toward buying antiviral medications to treat infected people. Officials from the Massachusetts Medical Society and the Boston Public Health Commission said the bill is long overdue during a meeting held by the Committee of Healthcare. To read the full article, log onto Daily Free Press. |