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Source: http://www.wgil.com/localnews.php?xn...009&newsid=112
Health Department Cancels Flu Pandemic Exercise
Knox County Health Department officials have announced that they are canceling a Mass Medication Dispensing Exercise previously scheduled for Friday, June 12, 2009 at Galesburg High School.
According to Jane Danielson, Public Health Emergency Response Coordinator for the Health Department, "one key component of the Department�s planning effort is the responsibility to provide medications or immunizations to all Knox County residents within a minimal time period in response to a biological attack or an outbreak of pandemic influenza." The June 12th exercise was intended to test the Health Department in accomplishing that task.
However, on the heels of the H1N1 virus coming to Illinois, State Health Department officials determined that the local health department exercises should be postponed.
The Health Department was pleased by the number of individuals who responded to the Departments volunteer recruitment efforts, as well as those who became part of the registry of individuals that can be called upon to help protect the safety and well being of Knox County residents in the event of an actual disaster.
"Even in an exercise it is important to remember that in order to accomplish such a critical under taking as mass medication dispensing, the Health Department would need the assistance of volunteers to fulfill many roles and responsibilities," Danielson said. "I hope that they all realize that their efforts are still very much appreciated even though the exercise has been canceled."
If you would like more information on how to become part of the Knox County Health Department Emergency Response Volunteer Registry, please contact the Department at 309-344-2224 or visit www.knoxcountyhealth.org.
Health Department Cancels Flu Pandemic Exercise
Knox County Health Department officials have announced that they are canceling a Mass Medication Dispensing Exercise previously scheduled for Friday, June 12, 2009 at Galesburg High School.
According to Jane Danielson, Public Health Emergency Response Coordinator for the Health Department, "one key component of the Department�s planning effort is the responsibility to provide medications or immunizations to all Knox County residents within a minimal time period in response to a biological attack or an outbreak of pandemic influenza." The June 12th exercise was intended to test the Health Department in accomplishing that task.
However, on the heels of the H1N1 virus coming to Illinois, State Health Department officials determined that the local health department exercises should be postponed.
The Health Department was pleased by the number of individuals who responded to the Departments volunteer recruitment efforts, as well as those who became part of the registry of individuals that can be called upon to help protect the safety and well being of Knox County residents in the event of an actual disaster.
"Even in an exercise it is important to remember that in order to accomplish such a critical under taking as mass medication dispensing, the Health Department would need the assistance of volunteers to fulfill many roles and responsibilities," Danielson said. "I hope that they all realize that their efforts are still very much appreciated even though the exercise has been canceled."
If you would like more information on how to become part of the Knox County Health Department Emergency Response Volunteer Registry, please contact the Department at 309-344-2224 or visit www.knoxcountyhealth.org.