Accession Number:

AD1183554

Title:

INFLUENZA PANDEMIC: DOD Combatant Commands' Preparedness Efforts Could Benefit from More Clearly Defined Roles, Resources, and Risk Mitigation

Descriptive Note:

[Technical Report, Congressional Report]

Corporate Author:

United States Government Accountability Office

Personal Author(s):

• D'Agostino, Davi M.
• Pross, Mark A.
• Ditto, Susan
• Gore, Nicole
• Hirschfeld, Simon
• Johnson, Aaron
• Murrish, Hilary

Report Date:

2007-06-01

Pagination or Media Count:

60

Abstract:

An influenza pandemic could impair the militarys readiness, jeopardize ongoing military operations abroad, and threaten the day-to-day functioning of the Department of Defense DOD due to a large percentage of sick or absent personnel. GAO was asked to examine DODs pandemic influenza planning and preparedness efforts. GAO previously reported that DOD had taken numerous actions to prepare departmentwide, but faced four management challenges as it continued its efforts. GAO made recommendations to address these challenges and DOD generally concurred with them. This report focuses on DODs combatant commands COCOM and addresses 1 actions the COCOMs have taken to prepare and 2 management challenges COCOMs face going forward. GAO reviewed guidance, plans, and after-action reports and interviewed DOD officials and more than 200 officials at the 9 COCOMs.

Descriptors:

• health services
• medical personnel
• military science
• combatant commanders
• warfare
• military medicine
• infectious diseases
• united states government
• interagency coordination
• personnel management
• quarantine
• unified combatant commands
• air force
• department of homeland security
• public health
• civilian personnel
• disease outbreaks

Subject Categories:

• Medicine and Medical Research
• Government and Political Science
• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics

Distribution Statement:

[A, Approved For Public Release]