States need more guidance on pandemic planning, GAO says.

The article discusses a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GOA) report that urges the federal government to escalate efforts to assist states bridge gaps in pandemic response planning. The government's "Implementation Plan for the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza" assigns states and municipalities as primary responders during a pandemic. Congress has allocated $600 million to states and localities via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for planning and exercises.