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SIERRA VISTA — Nothing seems to spark more fear throughout the world than the threat of an infectious pandemic outbreak. Health officials agree that preparedness, to include early detection and rapid response, are two key components for controlling infectious diseases.
In an effort to evaluate its overall preparedness and response plan, Sierra Vista Regional Health Center is conducting a Pandemic Flu Exercise tomorrow from 8:30 a.m. until noon.
SVRHC’s Emergency Management Committee, headed by Chief of Safety and Security Joseph Renn, along with the hospital’s Infection Control Nurse Ann Kuhl, are coordinating the exercise, which will be based on a pandemic flu outbreak scenario.
“For SVRHC to be effective in the response of an outbreak, it’s very important that we as a regional health center practice our operational plans ahead of time,” Renn said. “Testing our plans and procedures will enable us to respond properly — not only for this situation — but will help us respond more effectively to other situations where the public’s safety could be compromised.”
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Bird flu is an example of an influenza with pandemic potential. And while the bird flu virus has not yet made its way to North America, health officials are bracing for that possibility.
After taking a hard look at the country’s pandemic influenza preparedness and response during 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that, from a public health standpoint, much more preparation is needed.
According to a Web site that addresses the threat of bird flu, also called avian influenza, “Three-fourths of all emerging human diseases worldwide over the past two decades have originated in animals.”
With the mock exercise, SVRHC hopes to improve and evaluate a number of goals and objectives. Some of those include surveillance and epidemiology, command, control and communications, surge capacity and isolation techniques, as well as disease prevention and control. In addition, the hospital is working to improve collaboration between SVRHC and Cochise County Health Department.
During the mock exercise, SVRHC will continue to provide all its normal healthcare services.
Herald/Review reporter Dana Cole can be reached at 515-4618 or by e-mail at dana.cole@svherald.com.
John wrote on Jul 9, 2007 11:54 AM: