Swine Flu ‘Worst-Case Scenario’ Meetings Planned In El Paso, Las Cruces
EL PASO, TX — Government, public health, and education officials in El Paso, El Paso County, Las Cruces, and Dona Ana County are meeting in two separate meetings Friday morning to coordinate their efforts in the event of a local H1N1 flu strain outbreak.
As of this time there are no confirmed cases of the strain, otherwise known as the swine flu, in the El Paso/Las Cruces area.
The meeting at Las Cruces City Council Chambers is planned for 11am. A news release sent to ABC-7 says featured speakers will be Doa Ana County Manager Brian D. Haines, New Mexico Department of Health Officer Dr. Eugene Marciniak, Las Cruces Public Schools Superintendent Stan Rounds and Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima.
The meeting with El Paso leaders is set for 11:30am.
“If we plan for worst-case scenario and worst-case scenario doesn’t occur, we’re ok. So we need to be as ready for anything as possible,” said El Paso County Judge Anthony Cobos.
Cobos said he thinks the worst-case scenario would bea closure of our area’s schools – something for which parents need to be prepared. Cobos said, “If the public really starts looking at contingency plans for their kids, I think that’s really going to go a long way IN CASE we have to implement the worst-case scenario.”
The meeting in Las Cruces is scheduled for 11am; El Paso officials are meeting at 11:30am.
You can find both meetings live streamed on kvia.com and on the ABC-7 Stormtrack Weather channel, which is Digital 7.3, Time Warner 367, or Comcast 204.
Written for kvia.com by Anchor/Reporter Stephanie Valle
