NCJ Number
190353
Date Published
May 2000
Length
86 pages
Annotation
This document outlines an emergency plan that focuses on preventable illness, including communicable diseases, and public health communications.
Abstract
The plan was developed by a group of State and national experts engaged in promoting or preserving public health. The contributors ranged from practicing public health information officers, laboratory staff, and epidemiologists to national bioterrorism authorities and State emergency response and disaster services personnel. The plan is intended for a diverse group of State and local public health and emergency response officials; all those whose efforts must be coordinated on short notice, and conceivably under intense pressure, to contain a deliberately planned or naturally occurring infectious disease outbreak. It provides a framework for communications among public health officials, between health officials and other emergency response players, and directly to the public and the media. One section discusses the planning environment and lays out the general circumstances in which an emergency will arise ahead of time. Another section proposes the formation of a core working group within the health agency to bring together various disciplines for strategic planning and information exchange once an outbreak is suspected. It also defines the incident command system, joint information center, and unified command center; and discusses several essential preparedness activities. And finally, it presents a rough sequence of communication activities that should be initiated once an outbreak is detected. Another section discusses the basic delegation of responsibilities for nearly three dozen emergency response players, including those involved in disease investigation and risk communication, care and rescue of outbreak victims, and law enforcement/criminal investigation in the case of confirmed or suspected bioterrorism. The final sections of the plan raise logistical and administrative issues that each health agency must address independently, such as how to augment staff during an emergency or assuring that communications are secure. Appendices