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

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~3 community. The University has a large international student population, which can increase the community's vulnerability to communicable disease outbreaks such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (BARS) and tuberculosis;. Additionally, Orange County is at risk for terrorist attacks from biological, radiation, and chemical agents because of its position as a university community and its proximity to the international Research Triangle Park and the Sharon Hams Nuclear Plant in neighboring Chatham County. These facts are only a few examples of why establishment of a volunteer MRC unit in Orange County is essential for assuring the health, safety, and well-being of its citizens. Orange County Health Department (OCHD) collaborates closely with a number of community partners including, but not limited to, the Orange County Departments of Emergency Management and Social Services, the local chapter of the American Red Cross, animal control services, and local law enforceme~it. The OCHD also works closely with the University of North Carolina Department of Public Safety, Health Care System, Student Health Services, and Schools of Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health, and Medicine. Federal bioterrorism funding awarded by the State this spring was used in part to begin establishment of the volunteer MI:C unit. A contract Public Health Preparedness Coordinator has begun recruitment of the first cadre of medical professionals for the Medical Reserve Corps. Local licensed nurses and pharmacists have been invited to attend information sessions on the corps with an objective to recruit at least forty nurses and ten pharmacists to join the corps and participate in the first training on American Red Cross Mass Shelter Care and Disaster Health Services. Future trainings will include basic Incident Command System (ICS) operations and mass prophylaxis/immunization f or potential bioterrorism events.