Strategic National Stockpile, they can be privacy protection laws to do this, but the
delivered to the affected areas within 12 system is lagging.”
hours. Additional vendor-managed inven-
“but no coherent,
tory, such as UNIVEC’s stockpile, can Prior failures and shortcomings of the sys-
arrive at a disaster area within 24 to 36
coordinated follow-
tem do have an upside. Since hindsight is
hours of the deployment order. the best insight, “each disaster is a learn-
up had been done
ing experience for the future,” Dr. Dalton
“As soon as we are told by the local or says. “Every day we get better.”
state authority to get moving, we are
on these cases. If it
ready to get moving,” Dr. Dalton says.
“We are in a position to leap into action
had been, alarming
right now, if needed.”
statistics would un-
A pandemic is a global dis-
Other reassuring data is also emerging: ease outbreak. An influenza
A survey released in October 2006 by
doubtedly emerge.”
pandemic occurs when a
the National Association of County and
new influenza virus emerges
City Health officials shows that over 90
percent of the nation’s 2,800 local health agency is, who issues the authorization,
for which there is little or
departments have strengthened their dis- and how quickly,” he says. “Unfortunately, no immunity in the human
aster planning and ability to respond. the most recent disasters, like hurricane
population, and begins to
Katrina, are proof that there is room for
cause serious illness and then
That’s the good news. The not-so-good improvement.”
news is, predictably, that the system is not
spreads easily person-to-per-
infallible. Another problem area is the lack of a son worldwide.
harmonized approach to monitoring
Dr. Dalton says red tape could delay ship- disaster survivors, Dr. Dalton says. In the
Historically, the 20th cen-
ment of life-saving medication and equip- aftermath of the September 11, 2001, tury saw three pandemics of
ment. “It depends on who the controlling terrorist attack, for example, many people
influenza:
present on the scene of the World Trade
Center towers’ collapse were later treated ** 1918 influenza pandemic
“As soon as we are for respiratory and other ailments, “but
caused at least 675,000
no coherent, coordinated follow-up had
told by the local or
U.S. deaths and up to 50
been done on these cases. If it had been,
alarming statistics would undoubtedly
millio deaths worldwide
state authority to get emerge.” ** 1957 influenza pandemic
moving, we are ready
caused at least 70,000 U.S.
Statistics that might help public health of-
deaths and 1-2 million
ficials build a more effective infrastructure
to get moving,” Dr. enabling a better and quicker treatment of
deaths worldwide
disaster victims. ** 1968 influenza pandemic
Dalton says. “We “I’d like to see electronic medical records
caused about 34,000 U.S.
which can be easily and rapidly accessed
are in a position to
deaths and 700,000 deaths
in any type of a disaster,” Dr. Dalton says.
The system would allow first-responders
worldwide
leap into action right to look at a victim’s medical and pharma-
ceutical history online, and implement
now, if needed.” potentially life-saving treatments without
Source: U.S. Department of Health and
delay. “We have the technology and the
Human Services
http:www.blackengineer.com
USBE & Information Technology I January/February 2007 41
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