Vol. 3, No. 10, October 2007 |
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Breaking Bulletin: Outbreak Anarchy!
This just in from Chris Floyd, COO of the Capital Area Chapter, American Red Cross! A four-hour tabletop exercise titled "Outbreak Anarchy?is scheduled for Wednesday, November 7 from 9:00-1:00 at the Capital Regional Medical Center, 2626 Care Drive # 109, Tallahassee (see http://redcross.tallytown.com/panflu/outbreak/).
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American Humane Sponsors Course
The American Humane (AH) is sponsoring a course on disaster relief and animal
welfare November 14-15 (Wednesday-Thursday). According to Diane Kriz of AH,
anyone interested in the welfare of animals following a disaster should attend. The
training is scheduled to cover:
Day 1
* Intro to American Humane Society |
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Day 2
* Personal Preparedness The Humane Society of Greater Miami will provide food for both days. Tuition is $85 for American Humane Society members and $100 for all others. For additional information or for assistance |
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Dara Solomon, Intern [dara@humanesocietymiami.org]
Humane Society of Greater Miami/Adopt-A-Pet
16101 W. Dixie Highway
North Miami Beach, Florida 33160
(305) 749-1834
West Nile Virus Fatality in Florida
A Bay County man died after becoming infected with West Nile virus disease in July
For information, contact Danielle Stanek, DVM, Medical Epidemiologist-Bureau of
* Seroconversion: The development of detectable antibodies in the blood directed |
Pandemic Planning for Personnel ShortagesAfter participating in three health department pandemic tabletop exercises, Volusia County's Division of Emergency Management has established a plan for operating the county with 40 percent of its workforce either sick, taking care of sick loved ones, or afraid to report to work.
qualified to replace managers and supervisors. Gaps in cross training and unique positions, such as those with few back-ups, were identified. Each department and division forecast activities that could be cut back or temporarily eliminated during a pandemic. For example:
Volusia County Emergency Management Director Jim Ryan says that like so many For additional information contact Richard Moore at rmoore@co.volusia.fl.us. |
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SART Members Complete Advanced TrainingFlorida SART members John Haven, Director of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, and David Perry, DOACS ACP Administrator, have participated in instructor training courses at the Center for Disaster Preparedness in Anniston, Alabama
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Update ?Florida Veterinary Reserve CorpsAccording to John Haven, Director of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine in Gainesville, the Florida Veterinary Reserve Corps has received more than 50 applications. In early November, Haven says, they will contact vets and vet techs who have expressed interest and roll out the training program. "We are very excited about the opportunity the Vet Corps gives the state of Florida,?Haven says, "to be prepared before an emergency or disaster strikes.?/p> Florida's Vet Corps enlists vets and vet techs to volunteer their services responding to animal emergencies in Florida. During activation, volunteers will work within the ESF-17 incident command structure as part of the State Emergency Response Team.
Interested individuals are requested to contact John Haven at the College of Veterinary Medicine: (352) 392-2213 x 1-3154 or havenj@mail.vetmed.ufl.edu. (A pdf copy of the application is attached for downloading. It is not an interactive form, however, and it will need to be printed, completed and mailed to Joe Kight, Division of Animal Industry, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, 407 S. Calhoun Street, Mayo Building, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0800.) [top]FYI: Inter-Agency Avian Influenza Response TrainingFour regional avian influenza strike team training events involving Florida Department of Health (FDOH), Epidemiology and Environmental Health strike teams as well as responders from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), United States Department of Agriculture Veterinary Services (USDA VS), USDA Wildlife Services and Florida Fish, and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) are ongoing. The sessions are for two days each and provide training for approximately 60 people at each program. Facilitators include Dr. Carina Blackmore and Dr. Richard Hopkins of FDOH, Dr. Tom Holt from FDACS Animal Industries, Dr. Suzan Loerzel of USDA VS and Dr. Dan Wolf of FWC. Training addresses both the detection of and response to an avian influenza epizootic with possible human infections, and the rapid response to human cases. Topics include the ICS structure in an Avian Influenza response, background on the Florida and US poultry industry, personal protective equipment and biosecurity, human and animal surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, case management, and an overview of strike team challenges and conditions. The format is introductory presentations with interdisciplinary group exercises and is modeled after a national CDC led interagency exercise. The first training program was recently held at Alachua County Health Department in Gainesville and course evaluations were very positive. Participants felt multi-agency participation was particularly beneficial. Training sessions in Okaloosa, Polk, and Broward County are planned during the next two months. For information, contact Danielle Stanek, DVM, Medical Epidemiologist-Bureau of Community Environmental Health [Danielle_Stanek@doh.state.fl.us, office 850-245-4117 and cell 850-294-1087].
Too Late...This Time
"Lucky" Receives New Lease On Life
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