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Trop Med Infect Dis. 2019 Oct 30;4(4). pii: E132. doi: 10.3390/tropicalmed4040132. New York State Emergency Preparedness and Response to Influenza Pandemics 1918-2018.
Escuyer KL1, E Fuschino M2, St George K3.
Author information
1 Laboratory of Viral Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12208, USA. Kay.Escuyer@health.ny.gov. 2 Laboratory of Viral Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12208, USA. Meghan.Fuschino@health.ny.gov. 3 Laboratory of Viral Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12208, USA. Kirsten.St.George@health.ny.gov.
Abstract
Emergency health preparedness and response efforts are a necessity in order to safeguard the public against major events, such as influenza pandemics. Since posting warnings of the epidemic influenza in 1918, to the mass media communications available a century later, state, national and global public health agencies have developed sophisticated networks, tools, detection methods, and preparedness plans. These progressive measures guide health departments and clinical providers, track patient specimens and test reports, monitor the spread of disease, and evaluate the most threatening influenza strains by means of risk assessment, to be able to respond readily to a pandemic. Surge drills and staff training were key aspects for New York State preparedness and response to the 2009 influenza pandemic, and the re-evaluation of preparedness plans is recommended to ensure readiness to address the emergence and spread of a future novel virulent influenza strain.
KEYWORDS:
emergency preparedness; incident management system; influenza pandemic; just-in-time training; surge support
PMID: 31671539 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed4040132