Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response

What if Utah were the target of bioterrorism? Do you have a plan should the unthinkable happen? Is Utah prepared? These are the questions addressed in the documentary, “Battling Back: Taking on Bioterrorism in Utah.” Find out more

The Utah Department of Health, Utah’s 12 local health departments and selected other state agencies are utilizing funding awarded through grants from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health Resource and Services Administration (HRSA) to enhance emergency preparedness, both in the State of Utah as well as the surrounding region. These federal funds will help establish further infrastructure to prevent and respond to acts of bioterrorism and other emergencies.

The CDC funding allows both state and local health departments to hire and train personnel, as well as obtain equipment and other resources. The CDC grant is categorized in six focus areas to improve capacity in planning, epidemiology, laboratory, education and training, public risk communication and information dissemination, and expansion of current IT infrastructure, including the Health Alert Network. For additional information preparedness or grant information, feel free to visit the CDC’s site at http://www.bt.cdc.gov/.

Preparedness Planning and Readiness

Utah’s health departments and its partners are establishing strategic leadership, direction, capacity assessment and coordination of activities (including Strategic National Stockpile response) to ensure statewide readiness, interagency collaboration, local and regional preparedness (both within Utah and surrounding states) for bioterrorism, outbreaks of infectious disease, and other public health threats and emergencies.

Epidemiology

Utah’s health departments are working to enhance systems for rapid detection and reporting of unusual outbreaks of illness that may be the result of bioterrorism, outbreaks of infectious disease, and other public health threats and emergencies. The CDC is assisting state and local health departments in establishing expanded epidemiologic capacities to investigate and mitigate such outbreaks of illness.

Laboratory Services

Utah’s health departments and its partners are working to implement a jurisdiction-wide program that will provide rapid and effective laboratory services to support the laboratory response to chemical terrorism incidents and other public health threats. Laboratory capacities are increasing to include equipment purchasing and the ability to analyze exceedingly difficult analyses of chemical warfare agents and other potential chemical threat agents.

For more information: www.health.utah.gov/els/microbiology

Communications and Information Technology

This focus area of the grant provides ongoing improvements to Information Technology at both the state and local health departments. This grant also supports ongoing improvements to operational communications, including and the Health Alert Network. The Health Alert Network supports exchange of key information and notifications by linking public health and private partners on a 24/7 basis. The system provides for a secure electronic data exchange between public health partners' computer systems as well as for the protection of data both routinely and during public health emergencies.

Utah Notification & Information System

CDC Health Alert Network

CDC Public Health Informaton Network

Public Information and Risk Communication

To effectively communicate with the public and key stakeholders, Utah’s health agencies are developing an effective risk communication capacity that provides for the rapid dissemination of information to citizens and the news media before, during and after a bioterrorist attack. The capacity will exist to assist during outbreaks of infectious disease or other public health threats or emergencies. This includes communication and media training for communicators and spokespeople, printed and web materials, timely reporting of critical information, and effective interaction with the media. This section also requires ongoing oversight and coordination with public phone lines systems set up to handle public inquiry.

Education and Training

	The TEC was established to support Utah's public health workforce by:
	1) Assuring the appropriate delivery of training and education in preparedness for and response to bioterrorism, disease outbreaks, and other public health threats and emergencies,
	2) Increasing access to professional development opportunities for Utah's public health workforce, and
	3) Assuring access to training and education through the effective use of technology.