<p> TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES</p><p>HEALTH SERVICE REGION 6/5S Aashish Shah, M.D., FACOG DAVID L. LAKEY, M.D. Acting Regional Medical Director COMMISSIONER 5425 Polk Avenue, Suite J · Houston, Texas 77023 713-767-3000 · 1-800-270-3128 http://www.dshs.state.tx.us</p><p>January 28, 2008</p><p>Dear Superintendents, Principals and School Nurses:</p><p>Happy New Year! We hope the pandemic influenza toolkits that you received in December provided helpful information in regard to seasonal and pandemic influenza. Moreover, we hope that it started a conversation within your school and school district about pandemic influenza planning.</p><p>To assist you in your pandemic planning efforts, below is a link to an online PowerPoint presentation that gives information about seasonal flu, avian flu, and pandemic flu. This presentation provides guidance and examples from other local schools’ pandemic influenza plans that can assist you in your planning efforts. Please find this presentation at: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/region6-5/prepared6-5.shtm</p><p>Since history has shown that the next pandemic influenza outbreak is not a matter of “if” but “when”, our hope is that this additional information will help make your planning efforts less confusing and more comprehensive. Please do not hesitate to contact me at if you have questions or wish to discuss pandemic influenza planning in further detail. </p><p>Sincerely,</p><p>Brian Winegar, MPH Public Health Tech III Texas Department of State Health Services, HSR 6/5S Public Health Preparedness Program Office: (713) 767-3034</p>