The Health and Human Services Department held a forum for state and local officials to discuss pandemic preparedness planning. Among the topics addressed were threats posed by the avian influenza, assessments of risk posed to the U.S. by diseases found in other countries or regions, emergency preparedness and coordination, and efforts to educate the public about the nature of threats and appropriate responses. Secretary Chertoff opened the conference with remarks about the Department of Homeland Security's role in disease prevention and response. He was followed by other officials who talked about biohazard threats to national and economic security, as well as the specific threats posed by avian influenza. Following their remarks they answered questions from the audience.