What to know
- During an outbreak of a viral hemorrhagic fever or other high-consequence disease, rapid identification of cases is critical to limit disease spread.
- CDC has guidance and recommendations for preparedness and response to VHF and other high-consequence disease outbreaks in the United States.
- STLT public health officials can assess their jurisdiction's level of readiness to identify and address preparedness and operational gaps.
Recommendations
In 2019, CDC published updated national capability standards to guide the development of state and local public health emergency preparedness efforts. This document, Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Capabilities: National Standards for State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial Public Health, describes the 15 preparedness capabilities necessary for a robust state and local public health emergency response. Each capability is made up of functions, and each function contains specific tasks that are supported by multiple resource elements.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) published national capability standards to align preparedness and response efforts of healthcare systems, healthcare coalitions, and healthcare organizations. This document, 2017-2022 Health Care Preparedness and Response Capabilities, describes the high-level capabilities and objectives healthcare delivery systems should undertake to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies.
Planning and response efforts for an outbreak of a VHF or other high-consequence disease requires readiness in one healthcare preparedness capability and six key public health preparedness capabilities:
- Foundation for Health Care and Medical Readiness (Healthcare Preparedness Capability #1)
- Emergency Public Information and Warning (Public Health Preparedness Capability #4)
- Information Sharing (Public Health Preparedness/Healthcare Preparedness Capability #6)
- Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (Public Health Preparedness Capability #11)
- Public Health Laboratory Testing (Public Health Preparedness Capability #12)
- Public Health Surveillance and Epidemiological Investigation (Public Health Preparedness Capability #13)
- Responder Safety and Health (Public Health Preparedness/Healthcare Preparedness Capability #14)
The following resources may help STLT public health departments address self-identified gaps in response planning for a VHF or other high-consequence disease based on the national standards. STLT officials are encouraged to review these online resources frequently as information may change over time.
Healthcare systems and medical readiness assessments
- Assess readiness for VHF or other high-consequence disease response within your jurisdiction's hospitals, inpatient and outpatient healthcare facilities, clinician practices, and other clinical settings.
- Develop and sustain strong relationships.
- Identify hazards and risks.
- Prioritize and address gaps through planning, training, exercises, and managing resources.
- Coordinate with officials at healthcare facilities, healthcare coalitions, and emergency management agencies to develop local and state emergency operation plans that address the needs of healthcare facilities during a VHF or other high-consequence disease outbreak response.
Risk communication
Prepare risk communication strategies and messages for healthcare staff and the public including general information on VHF or other high-consequence diseases, risks to the public, risk of transmission, and protective measures.
Information-sharing
- Ensure appropriate personnel are enrolled in information sharing systems and receive CDC Health Alert Network (HAN) notifications.
- Maintain situational awareness within the jurisdiction by regularly visiting the CDC website for the latest outbreak information, guidance documents, current case counts, maps of affected areas, and CDC resources.
- Disseminate information to state and local response partners, including hospitals, healthcare systems, primary care associations, provider organizations, local public health partners, and emergency management partners.
Travel-related information and public health interventions
- Ensure state and local epidemiologic and medical staff have the latest recommendations for travelers.
- Ensure that travelers have access to current information from CDC Travelers' Health, which includes travel notices and outbreak information.
Public health laboratory testing
- Ensure laboratory staff and other healthcare personnel have reviewed and understand updated laboratory guidance for VHF or other high-consequence disease testing, including safe handling of specimens.
- Review safety protocols and procedures for performing routine diagnostic testing for patient management and care if a VHF or other high-consequence disease is suspected.
Public health surveillance and epidemiological investigation
Ensure surveillance tools are available to state and local epidemiologic staff.
Responder Safety and Health
Ensure that clinicians who may care for a patient with a suspected or confirmed VHF or other high-consequence disease are trained on infection prevention and control guidance and consider which resources are needed (PPE, decontamination and waste management materials, and other supplies) to implement the guidance.