Pandemic Flu Education Campaign

Health Department Targets Asian Community with “Good Health is Wealth” Pandemic Flu Educational Campaign – Will Participate in Lunar New Year Celebration Feb. 17 at Fair Oaks Mall

February 12, 2007

The Fairfax County Health Department will participate in the opening ceremony of the Asian American Lunar New Year celebration on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 1 p.m., at Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax.

Regina Milteer, M.D., F.A.A.P., pandemic flu physician consultant for the Health Department, will participate in the opening ceremony by wearing the "Chi Pao," the traditional Chinese dress worn during special occasions. As part of a panel of honored guests, Dr. Milteer will "feed the lion's mouth" with a red envelope during the human lion dance to symbolize luck in the new year of the lunar calendar. The red envelope contains the Health Department's "Good Health is Wealth" new year greeting, a shiny "lucky" penny, and pandemic influenza information.

The Health Department will distribute the same "lucky" red envelopes to visitors and passerby, and will have staff on hand at a pandemic flu preparedness display featuring a sample emergency preparedness kit, fact sheets, preparedness checklists and hand washing information.

"Pandemic flu preparedness is a message for everyone. The Health Department's participation in the Lunar New Year celebration demonstrates how we can reach out to Fairfax County's vibrant, diverse communities in new, exciting and culturally-sensitive ways," said Dr. Milteer.

Thousands are expected at Fair Oaks Mall during the two-day celebration of the Year of the Boar. In its fourth year, the event is organized by Hank Chao, of the Hua Community Center in Falls Church, and is co-sponsored by Fair Oaks Mall. The celebration, Feb. 17-18, 1-4 p.m., will include traditional lion and dragon dances, as well as Asian cultural performances and cooking demonstrations.

The "Good Health is Wealth" campaign is one of several pandemic flu outreach initiatives by Fairfax County. The county began planning for pandemic flu in 2005, and has posted its Pandemic Flu Response Plan online. The county will continue its outreach activities and hosting educational events to help residents, businesses, health care providers and community organizations prepare for pandemic flu and other public health emergencies.

For more information about pandemic flu preparedness in Fairfax County, call the Health Department at 703-246-2411, TTY 703-591-6435, or visit the Health Department Web site. Additional pandemic flu resources are available on Fairfax County's pandemic flu Web page . For more information about the Asian Lunar New Year event, call Fair Oaks Mall information at 703-359-8300, TTY 711.