Preparedness for pandemic influenza in nursing homes: a 2-state survey.

To the Editor: An influenza pandemic would be expected to have major social and economic consequences. Hospital bed capacity may be quickly overwhelmed in an influenza pandemic,1 and government plans are looking at alternate care sites.2 Nursing homes care for a very vulnerable population and may be expected to help with hospital patient overflow. 3,4 The extent of influenza pandemic preparedness in nursing homes is largely unknown.5