U.S. Lawmakers To Examine Swine Flu Response

U.S. health authorities have said efforts to prepare for a possible pandemic have been under way for years.

U.S. lawmakers plan to take a closer look at the U.S. response to the swine flu outbreak that has sickened people in five states and more in other countries, according to a statement on Monday.

The U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee "will examine the recent outbreak of swine flu and the next steps for a federal response," it said.

The hearing will aim to "ensure that all the agencies responsible for protecting the public's health are coordinating appropriately with all due diligence to avert a potential disaster," subcommittee chairman, Democratic Rep. Frank Pallone, said in a separate statement.

Pallone did not say who would testify at the hearing. A spokesman for the New Jersey lawmaker had no immediate comment.

The virus has so far killed 103 people in Mexico, but has not caused deaths elsewhere despite spreading to the United States, Canada and parts of Europe, health officials have said. Cases have been confirmed in California, Kansas, Ohio, New York and Texas.

U.S. health authorities have said efforts to prepare for a possible pandemic have been under way for years.

In 2004, the country faced a nationwide shortage of the vaccine for the seasonal flu strains when Chiron, now part of Novartis AG's, faced contamination problems at a British plant that supplied the United States.

Since then the federal government has worked to boost domestic manufacturing capacity for flu vaccines and treatments, giving five companies a total of $1 billion.

"We're better prepared today than we were four years ago ... We're in the process of rebuilding the vaccine production capacity in this county," former U.S. Health Secretary Mike Leavitt, a Republican who oversaw much of that effort under U.S. President George W. Bush, told Reuters on Friday.

He added that the federal government has worked extensively with state and local authorities to develop action plans in case of a flu outbreak or other widespread health disasters.

Some health experts have been critical of the federal government's work long-term to prepare for possible pandemics.

The U.S. Senate has not yet announced any similar hearings, but two Democratic senators said so far officials at all levels appear to be coordinating their efforts.

Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan said people need to work with local officials "so that we can stop the spread. It appears they are on top of things very quickly and moving on this very quickly."

Sen. Christopher Dodd of Connecticut said there was a lot of coordination.

"The most important thing at this point is people need not panic about this," he added.