In preparation for a possible pandemic flu, the Loudoun County Pandemic Flu Task Force will hold a series of seminars this summer on the history of pandemic flu, and symptoms, protection and prevention.
Health Department Director David Goodfriend said the task force will hold the seminars for a variety of audiences, including medical personnel, business operators and the general public.
The seminar open to the general public will be held, from 7 to 9:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 10, at Loudoun Public Schools Administration Building, 21000 Education Court in Ashburn.
Loudoun County Health Department epidemiologist and task force spokesperson Benita Boyer said preparing for a pandemic flu is different than preparing for the common cold.
"Usually people prepare, buy food and water for only three to five days," she said. "You need to prepare ideally for eight weeks at a time, in order to get over the entire initial impact of the flu."
The Pandemic Flu Task Force is made up of 25 members, representing county and town governments, Loudoun Public Schools, Inova Loudoun Hospital and the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce.