Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
Blunt Highlights Missouri’s Preparedness Efforts
State Receives High Marks on National Preparedness Report
JEFFERSON CITY–Gov. Matt Blunt is pleased to announce that Missouri’s achievements in public health and hospital emergency preparedness were noted in a national survey published today in the Trust for America’s Health report. Missouri received high scores for its preparedness efforts, scoring eight of the 10 key indicators in the 2006 report, and making it one of 12 states in the nation with a score of eight or more.
“Tremendous strides have been made in Missouri during the past several years, and we are pleased this report highlights some of those accomplishments,” Blunt said. “The Department of Health and Senior Services will continue to work with federal, state, and local partners to enhance the capacity and capability of Missouri’s health systems to respond to a bioterrorist attack or public health emergency.”
This year’s report gives a snapshot look at Missouri’s progress in preparedness efforts. Last year, the state received the average score for states across the nation, with five of the 10 indicators used for the 2005 report.
The report noted that the State Public Health Laboratory has the ability to quickly identify a biological threat and the appropriate number of trained laboratory scientists to test for a suspected outbreak of anthrax or the plague. Missouri was also credited with providing year-round, laboratory-based surveillance of influenza. These findings align with the laboratory’s mission to be prepared to rapidly respond with appropriate and accurate testing to any public health emergency including disease outbreaks, natural disasters, new and emerging infections, accidents and acts of terrorism, whether biological, chemical or radiological.
The report recognized the state’s commitment to funding public health programs by maintaining level funding for public health services from Fiscal Year 2005 to Fiscal Year 2006, and noted the importance that this funding supports the infrastructure needed to adequately respond to emergencies. In addition, Missouri’s disease surveillance system, which quickly identifies and tracks health threats and outbreaks, was commended for its compatibility with the national system used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
“Missouri has made a lot of progress in its Strategic National Stockpile readiness, the state health department’s Department Situation Room, 24/7 response team, mobile communications and emergency response capability, multi-state collaboration, and with our Ready in 3 emergency preparedness education program,” said Jane Drummond, director of the Department of Health and Senior Services. “We will continue our work to enhance the public health system and health-care delivery system throughout the state.”
For more information on Missouri’s preparedness efforts, contact the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Center for Emergency Response and Terrorism, at 573-526-4768 or on-line at www.dhss.mo.gov.
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