HHS OIG Audit Report: State and Local Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: Medical Surge, September 2009: “An influenza pandemic is a global outbreak of a highly infectious influenza virus that can cause serious illness in humans. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) estimates that even a mild influenza pandemic could cause between 2 and 7.4 million deaths worldwide. In February 2008, the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) within HHS asked the Office of Inspector General to evaluate State and local preparedness for influenza pandemic, particularly with regard to medical surge and vaccine and antiviral drug distribution and dispensing.”