Public Health PreparednessSummer Institute for Public Health Practice

August 4, 2003

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Tools for the Frontline – A National Perspective

Mary C. Selecky, Secretary of HealthASTHO 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 • 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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•WEST NILE VIRUS• E. COLI• CHOLERA• SALMONELLA

Everyday Public Health Practice

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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

• 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:– 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• 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

• 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

Washington State Department of Ecology

Port of Tacoma

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Emergency PreparednessFOCUS AREAS

1. Planning And Emergency Response2. Surveillance And Epidemiology3. Lab Capacity4. Secure I.T. Systems / Health Alert Network5. Communications6. Education / Training

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Public health requirements

• Long-term commitment• Flexibility in federal model• Partnerships

Answers to your questions

www.doh.wa.gov

mary.selecky@doh.wa.gov