Agenda - 11-18-2003-9b - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

ORANGE COUNTY BI~ARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: November 18, 2003 Action Age Item No. SUBJECT: Building Capacity for Public Health Preparedness and Response in Orange County Health Department DEPARTMENT: Health PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): 1. OCEAN and Public Health Corps Recruitment 2. NC DHHS Agreement Addenda 3. Medical Reserve Corps Grant Narrative 4. Job Duties 5. Diagram of Planning Relationships INFORMATION CONTACT: Rosemary Summers, ext 2411 TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Hillsborough Chapel Hill Durham Mebane 732-8181 968-4501 688-7331 336-227-2031 PURPOSE: To build the capacity of the Orange County Health Department to carryout its responsibilities in public health preF~aredness and emergency response as part of the overall Orange County emergency respon:>e through acceptance of funds available and establishing two public health preparedness po:citions. BACKGROUND: The Health Dep~irtment has specified emergency response functions under the broad umbrella of the Orange County Multihazard Plan. In addition, the department has responsibilities for public health preparedness that do not rise to the level of an emergency response as defined by the Multihazard Plan (limited waterborne, foodborne or other communicable disease outbreaks ~s examples). The Health Department has been engaged in developing plans to respond to public health emergencies for more than five years. Competing work needs and a lack of funding to hire dedicated staff at the department have prevented a focused approach to completing thE~ required work. The need for well-developed response plan has been reflected in a Board of Cc-mmissioners' goal that was first adopted in 1996. Needs To illustrate the ongoing need for response capability, it is important to consider that: • In 1999, 1,324 community rnembers received immune globulin as a result of a Hepatitis A exposure in a local restaurant over athree-day holiday weekend. The Health Department utilized twelve nurses from adjacent counties to supplement County staff. • In 2000, there was a rubella outbreak (8 cases in Orange County) among the Hispanic population. In the next three months, more than 1000 community members were vaccinated against rubella t~~ prevent the spread of the outbreak. This effort required intensive planning and coordination with community partners. • In 2001, there was a Norwalk virus outbreak in an elementary school in Chapel Hill in mid-May. Over 100 children were ill. The investigation included surveying parents,