I’M GLAD THAT SOMEBODY IS THINKING ABOUT THIS STUFF:

In the event of a flu pandemic or a bioterrorism attack, help could arrive via the U.S. mail or from the fire station down the street, Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt said Tuesday.

Leavitt, in an hour-long interview with Associated Press reporters and editors, said it’s clear that the system of delivering medicines in the United States is inadequate in the event of an emergency.

He said it was “in some ways an absolute certainty” that a flu pandemic would occur. “If it happens anywhere, there is risk everywhere,” he said. . . .

Leavitt said the federal government was looking to stockpile 20 million doses of a bird flu vaccine and another 20 million doses of Tamiflu, an antiviral medication to treat the disease.

I find this — and the thoughts about distribution — encouraging. (Via Michael Silence).

UPDATE: Reader Eric McErlain emails:

On your item this morning — the plans for the U.S. Post Office are more extensive than you might realize. About a year ago I was at a conference with an ex-NYC fire chief now working as a consultant with Giuliani’s firm. Aparrently, in case of any national disaster, the only organization with both national reach and enough vehicles to reach virtually every citizen is the postal service, and they are being factored into all sorts of preparedness planning.

Interesting.