(05/03/06) TRENTON ? Governor Jon Corzine (D-NJ) and health officials ran a planning exercise Wednesday to prepare for a possible bird flu outbreak in New Jersey.

Corzine and others held what?s known as a ?tabletop? exercise. They went over certain courses of action, such as distribution methods for potentially life-saving medications. The governor says the state is as prepared as it can be without greater access to anti-virals and without knowing the exact forms the disease could take.

The state already has surveillance systems in place to identify and help contain possible bird sicknesses. In addition, hospitals are running exercises to get ready for possible spikes in patient numbers. New Jersey Health Commissioner Dr. Fred Jacobs says in terms of a possible pandemic, the question isn?t if, it?s when.

Related information: NJDHSS - Emergency Preparedness