Transcript the PowerPoint SlideShow

Depiction and Brazoria
County, Texas
Public Health
Chasey M. Reed-Boston, BS, MA, PhD Student
CBRNE Analyst, Brazoria County, Texas Health Dept.
Public Health Emergency Preparedness
Public Health Uses for
Depiction
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Community needs assessments
Epidemiological surveillance
Emergency response planning/oversight
Mass prophylaxis planning/oversight
Health behavior trend analysis
BCHD-PHEP Depiction
• Still in formative stages due to H1N1
• Plans in place to use it for:
– Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear issues
– Plotting of tier II information to know locations of
organophosphates and other dangerous chemicals
– Plotting of reported cases and other pertinent
information for disease tracking
– Plotting of site where there are radiological and
nuclear concerns; close proximity to a nuclear plant
Epidemiological
Presentation
• This will utilize a fictitious, but somewhat
plausible scenario. South Brazoria County is
considered rural, and the north end is heavily
populated, bordering Houston, Texas.
• Not intended to be a “figure-it-out” for those
of us who enjoy a good puzzle, but instead, an
example of how we plan to utilize Depiction in
assessing threats and planning responses,
where necessary.
• The scenario will be presented, then a
timeline, then an example of how this would
be represented in Depiction versus existing
methods.
The scenario:
• Agent: Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis)
• Method of dispersal: Spores in the form of a
white powder-substance placed inside balloons
that are distributed from a booth inside the
midway by a clown of unknown identity. The
clown inflates a balloon with a pump, hands it
to a person, pops it with a long stick pin in
their face, causing white powder to dust the
hair and face as part of his comedic act. The
investigatory aspect of this situation will not
be featured in today’s webinar due to the
overview nature of this presentation, but
Depiction can also be used during that
process.
The timeline:
• Thursday, 16:30: The fair has been going on
for the last seven days. The clown opened his
booth Saturday night. The disease
surveillance line at the health department
starts ringing, and doctors are asking if
anyone else is complaining of a nasty bug
packing their waiting rooms. The doctors’
head nurses advise the disease surveillance
nurse that everyone coming in is reporting
upper-respiratory and flu-like symptoms.
• At this point, there is great concern, but no
alarm.
Timeline continued
• Thursday, 20:30: EMS and police radio
traffic indicates three people have died in their
homes after displaying flu-like symptoms.
• Thursday, 22:30: The three hospitals in the
county are beginning to fill up their regular
beds, and their ICU beds are almost
completely full. Emergency room
departments are filled to capacity and unable
to accept any more people. Local EMS units
are operating at capacity and will soon need
additional help answering calls.
Timeline continued
• Friday, 09:00: All school districts report
significant absenteeism in both students and
staff. School nurses submit lists of names and
addresses for those reported absent in a
spreadsheet via e-mail to the disease
surveillance nurse. One school district closes
due to low attendance and growing public
concern.
• Friday, 10:00: EMS and police radio traffic
indicate several more deaths during the night,
and local EMS services are now requesting
assistance for additional resources.
Timeline continued
• A diagnosis of anthrax has been made, and the
local health department disease surveillance
nurse is notified.
• The state health department is notified, local
law enforcement is notified, and the county
emergency manager is notified.
• Friday, 13:45: An emergency is declared by
the county judge.
• It has been decided that mass prophylaxis is
indicated for this situation and is ordered.
• Staff call-downs are deployed, and POD site
call-downs are soon to follow.
What are you looking at?
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Hospital locations and bed counts
Addresses of those found dead in their homes
School locations, absentee numbers, closings
Addresses sent by school nurses
Health department location
POD sites
These may exist in spreadsheets, but not
provide a true visual of the situation. By
loading these spreadsheets into Depiction, we
can get a more comprehensive visual picture
of the data.