La Salle announces Avian Flu preparation plan

By Christina Katsifas
Collegian Staff
April 18, 2007

While students were home during the Easter holiday, they may have noticed a letter addressed to them from the Office of the Dean of Students.

According to Dean of Students, Dr. Joseph Cicala, a letter was sent to students and families to notify them of La Salle’s involvement in preparing for a possible Avian Flu pandemic.

“It was recommended that a letter be sent to students and families letting them know that we are engaged in planning with respect to the potential for a pandemic,” Cicala said. “We also wanted to encourage students and families to develop their own plans, in the event that we need to close or evacuate the University, and request that students and families provide us with permanent and local addresses, as well as emergency contact information.”

The Avian Flu Task Group, which has been at work since last spring, made the recommendation. Group co-chairs include Executive Assistant to the President, Brother Joseph Willard and Counsel to the President and Assistant Vice President for Government and Community Relations, Ed Turzanski.

A discussion regarding the strategy took place during the fall semester and a draft of the letter was supplied to Cicala for review in January.

With the assistance of the Provost, Dr. Richard Nigro, and the chairs of the task group, Cicala engaged La Salle’s Enrollment Services and Information Technology staff in identifying ways students may conveniently provide, or update, their information electronically using mylasalle.

Cicala stated it was not until he was notified that “the extensive and good work that went into the modification of existing electronic tools and the development of new features had been completed” that he and Nigro agreed the letter should go out.

According to Turzanski, La Salle has adopted the National Incident Command Structure model and has worked with the Pennsylvania Health Department to ensure that it is consistent with their emergency response plan.

“We are able to operate with local, state and federal authorities by adopting the National Incident Command Structure Model,” Turzanski said. “The model identifies who is at what level and prepares us to deal with a variety of events.”

Turzanski also commented on the importance of productive communication when faced with a serious event, such as an Avian Flu pandemic.

“It is necessary to have the means to communicate with students and get to as many students as possible, Turzanski said. “The key in response to such an event is effective and instantaneous communication.”

While noone can predict what exactly will occur in the event of a pandemic, it is imperative that steps be taken to prepare

“The thing you prepare for is the worst case scenario, which is not unlikely,” said biology professor Brother Thomas McPhillips. “The fact that there are prescriptions available is a plus.”

katsifasc1@lasalle.edu