|
Message from the Director:
Emergency Preparedness:
Greene County Public Health Emergency Preparedness department is responsible for ensuring that Greene County is prepared to handle public health emergencies such as a pandemic flu or natural disaster. Some of the responsibilities of Greene County Public Health Emergency Preparedness include developing a Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) for Greene County Public Health as well as a Pandemic Flu Plan. Emergency Preparedness is also responsible for the execution of state-required call-down drills using the NYS Alert Notification System.
Pandemic Flu:
A pandemic is an epidemic that spreads rapidly around the world with high rates of illness and death. Pandemic flu is virulent human flu that causes a global outbreak of serious illness. Because there is little natural immunity, the disease can spread easily from person to person. Although people are exposed to different strains of the flu virus every year, history has shown that several times each century, new flu strains develop.
Currently, there is no pandemic flu. However, if the changed virus causes serious illness and easily spreads from person to person, a pandemic can occur.
Pandemics are different than seasonal flu outbreaks. Seasonal flu outbreaks are caused by small changes in influenza viruses that people have already been exposed to. New flu vaccine is developed each year to protect people against the expected changes in existing viruses: that's why annual flu shots are needed and are effective. However, since an influenza pandemic is caused by an entirely new strain of flu virus, preparing a vaccine in advance is not as simple as it is for seasonal flu.
Currently there is concern about one strain of Avian influenza (bird flu), known as H5N1, because it is causing severe disease in wild birds, chickens, and other poultry in several continents. In some instances, people who have had close contact with sick poultry have also become infected, some have died. There is concern that H5N1 will be able to change so that it will be easily spread from birds to humans and then from human to human.
Preparedness will be essential should a Pandemic Flu occur. If you are interested in reading more about Pandemic Flu, or learning about how you and your families can prepare, please visit the links provided below:
Volunteer Database:
Currently, we are in the process of establishing a volunteer database to assist Greene County Public Health. We are seeking both medical and non-medical volunteers who would be able to help Greene County Public Health with various tasks in the event of a public health emergency. Volunteers will be needed to help staff Points of Dispensing in the event of a Pandemic Flu. Volunteers will also be needed to assist Greene County Public Health with filling out and organizing paperwork, transportation, and assisting the elderly and disabled in the event of a severe public health emergency. Below is the link to our volunteer sign-up sheet. We ask that anyone interested in volunteering please fill out the sheet and return it to Greene County Public Health.
Community Health Volunteer Sign-Up
Also, for those volunteers who have already signed up, there is a link below for self-training courses, offered by the Emergency Management Institute, if you are interested.
Emergency Management Institute Independent Study Courses.
Special Needs Population:
In the event of a public health emergency, Greene County Public Health would like to know where the special needs population of the county resides to be able to provide any necessary assistance as quickly as possible. If you or someone you know has special needs, we ask that you please click on the link below to fill out the form and return it to Greene County Public Health.
People with special healthcare needs voluntary registration
Announcements:
Greene County Public Health will be hosting a Mass Vaccination POD (Point of Dispensing) and administering free influenza vaccine for all adults on Tuesday, November 13, 2007, 5pm-8pm, at the Catskill High School Gymnasium. The main objective for this particular exercise is to provide flu vaccine to 500 county residents. The POD will also assess the ability of Greene County Public Health to provide appropriate prophylaxis to county residents in a timely manner through a mass campaign.
Other Related Links:
|
