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Public Health Preparedness
Summer Institute for Public Health Practice
August 4, 2003
Tools for the Frontline –
A National Perspective
Mary C. Selecky, Secretary of Health
ASTHO President
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The Department of Health works
to protect and improve the health
of people in Washington state.
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Main Jobs of a Public Health System
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Disease prevention
Protection from environmental hazard
Injury prevention
Promotion of healthy behaviors
Disaster response
Health services access
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Bioterrorism
Emergency
Preparedness
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THE PUBLIC HEALTH NETWORK
• Local and state partners:
– local health jurisdictions (county and regional)
– state health department
– state board of health
– school of public health (University of Washington)
– other state agencies (Ecology, Social & Health Services, etc.)
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THE PUBLIC HEALTH NETWORK
• National partners:
– US Department of Health and Human
Services
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC)
• Health Resources Services Administration
(HRSA)
– Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
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Everyday Public Health Practice
• WEST NILE VIRUS
• E. COLI
• CHOLERA
• SALMONELLA
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Prepare for High Risk Agents
• PLAGUE
• ANTHRAX
• BOTULISM
• SMALLPOX
• VIRAL HEMORRHAGIC FEVERS
• TULAREMIA
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TOPOFF 2 - Seattle
• Immediate information needed
• Some detailed
• Some sound bites
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Emergency preparedness
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Federal funding
Emergency management system
Preparation
Commitment to extinguishing the
threats to our health
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ASTHO Preparedness Project
• ASTHO – Association of State and
Territorial Health Officials
• Develop and recommend ASTHO policy
positions
• Identify and promote optimal training of
state public health workforce
• Promote communication and information
sharing among state health agencies
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ASTHO Preparedness Project
• Identify and promote opportunities for
enhanced communication and information
sharing
• Promote collaboration among state health
agencies and non-governmental entities
• Monitor and analyze emerging federal
legislative proposals
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Community Coordination
• Partnerships between public health and:
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Clinicians and health care facilities
Law enforcement
Public safety: fire, HAZMAT
Emergency management
EMS-Emergency Medical Services
• Coordinate response across agencies at
the local, state, and federal levels
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RESOURCES: www.astho.org
• Web casts: Keeping your Head in a Crisis Responding to the Communication Challenges
Posed by Bioterrorism
• ASTHO Risk Communication Workbook
• Preparedness Assessment Tools
• Bioterrorism: State Performance Standards
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National Responders
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Health and Human Services (HHS)
Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC)
Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA)
Department of Homeland Security
FBI
Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA)
Department of Agriculture
Department of Defense
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State and Local Responders
• Health care providers
and facilities
• Local and state health
departments
• Emergency
management agencies
• Search and Rescue,
EMS, and HAZMAT
teams
• Law enforcement,
National Guard
• Political leaders
• Community service
organizations
• Volunteers
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9-11 Lessons Learned
• Consistent messages
• Establish roles
• Establish relationships
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Lessons Learned
• Credible threats
• How to handle suspicious
packages
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Educating the Public
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Language and cultural issues
Consistency and accuracy
Fast facts
Media relations
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“Bioterrorism pales beside what nature can
do. There are thousands of viruses out
there ready to move into a new host as we
compress the world.”
- Robert Webster, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
U.S. News & World Report, June 23, 2003
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SARS Experience:
State and Local
Implications
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Epidemic in the Global Village
• Bioterrorism preparedness funding
• Great progress to enhance public health capacity,
more needs to be done
• All levels – international, federal, state, local –
worked cooperatively
• Obstacle: Serious workforce shortage
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Welcome to Washington
• International trade
• International border
• International travelers
– many from Asia
• Asian and Pacific
Islander population –
11% Seattle-area, 5.5%
statewide
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Multiple pathways
• NORTH: British
Columbia, Canada
• WEST: Puget Sound
seaports
• SOUTH: Columbia
River seaports
• Major airports
• Military bases
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A Washington port experience
Port of Tacoma
Washington State Department of Ecology
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Emergency Preparedness
FOCUS AREAS
1. Planning And Emergency Response
2. Surveillance And Epidemiology
3. Lab Capacity
4. Secure I.T. Systems / Health Alert Network
5. Communications
6. Education / Training
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Public health requirements
• Long-term commitment
• Flexibility in federal model
• Partnerships
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Answers to your questions
www.doh.wa.gov
[email protected]