NCJ Number
189958
Date Published
July 2001
Length
106 pages
Annotation
This document examines the capabilities of State health departments to respond to a biological or chemical terrorism incident.
Abstract
In 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received funds to upgrade State and local health department preparedness and response capabilities relative to bioterrorism. This Planning Guide contains public health-specific programmatic guidance for terrorism response preparedness. The key preparedness elements are hazard analysis, emergency response planning, health surveillance and epidemiologic investigation, laboratory diagnosis and characterization, and consequence management. Hazard analysis is the basis for effective and realistic emergency planning and helps a planning team decide what hazards merit special attention, what actions must be planned for, and what resources are likely to be needed. Health surveillance and epidemiologic investigation considerations include personnel and training, legal authority, emergency communications, and collaboration with other agencies. To enhance laboratory identification and characterization of biological threat agents, the capabilities and integration of laboratories, points of contact, and surge capacity must be considered. Consequence management includes measures to protect public health and safety; restore essential government services; and provide emergency relief to governments, businesses, and people adversely affected by the terrorism event. Public health departments should perform a variety of consequence management functions to protect public health and safety. These include response phase activities, emergency operations, conditions for activation, interagency coordination, communications, event notification, public alert, and public education and information. 4 exhibits, 2 annexes, 2 appendices, and bibliography