Pandemic summit set in Topeka

? Health, business, emergency management, school, faith-based groups, government and agriculture officials from around the state are expected to attend a pandemic flu summit featuring U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt.

“Pandemic flu is an issue we take seriously, and we encourage every level of government, the private sector and community organizations to do the same,” Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said.

Sebelius and state Health and Environment Secretary Roderick Bremby are hosting the meeting, set for Wednesday. They will sign a resolution laying the groundwork for state and federal cooperation on pandemic flu.

The federal government has provided Kansas with $1.1 million over the next year for developing pandemic response plans.

Leavitt has visited several states in recent months to talk about bird flu preparation. One of the first things he tells listeners is that any community that fails to prepare for a pandemic and expects the federal government to come to the rescue “will be tragically wrong.”