(Note to Editors: Media members are invited to attend the morning session. There will be a press availability at 10:45 a.m.)

New Jersey will hold it sixth statewide pandemic influenza summit on Friday, April 9, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the New Brunswick Hyatt Regency.

More than 300 local and county public health officials, emergency management professionals and business leaders are expected to attend this workshop to talk about lessons learned during the 2009-2010 H1N1 pandemic.

Dr. Poonam Alaigh, New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) Commissioner, will give opening remarks. David Gruber, DHSS Senior Assistant Commissioner; and Dr. Susan Walsh, DHSS Deputy Commissioner, will conduct presentations on the state’s response.

Margy Jahn, president of the New Jersey Health Officers Association, will present welcoming remarks.

There will also be four presentations made by local health and private sector representatives on successful practices used during the pandemic response.

New Jersey held five workshops in July, August and September 2009 to coordinate planning efforts, including statewide vaccination activities.

For more information on H1N1 influenza in New Jersey, visit the Department’s H1N1 website at http://nj.gov/health/er/h1n1/