Emergency Preparedness and Response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Emergency Preparedness and Response - Essay Example The laboratory workers identify the pathogen, and physicians notify the local health department and treat the patient (Hughes & Gerberding, 2002, p.1013; Harris & Yeskey, 2011). The latter serve as the early warning system in the prevention and response system (Harris & Yeskey, 2011). Once identified, state and national health agencies must be notified. Hughes and Gerberding (2002) stressed the importance of the â€Å"’golden triangle’ of response between clinicians and clinical microbiologists, the health-care delivery system, and public health officials† (p.1013). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) oversee the golden triangle. They allocate funding across health agencies. In response to the 2001 anthrax attacks, CDC created â€Å"rapid response teams composed of individuals with expertise in field operations, epidemiology, microbiology, data management, and communications† to assist affected areas (Hughes & Gerberding, 2002, p.1014). CDC is in charge of disseminating knowledge of new infections and treatment methods. However, communication is not well developed. Szpiro, Johnson and Buckeridge (2007) argued that early recognition and two – way communication between the health officials and clinics are insufficiently developed in the USA. As a result, a needed prophylactic distribution within three days after an attack cannot be achieved (Szpiro, Johnson & Buckeridge, 2007, 102, p.103). They argue that the health system needs to incorporate syndrome surveillance of all possible biological pathogens affecting humans, so that in case of an attack, symptoms can be recognized. Following the current suit of only few pathogen recognition abilities, most pathogens go unrecognized (Szpiro, Johnson & Buckeridge, 2007, p.103). However, in case of anthrax, since its occurrence dropped to zero after 1900, only one case would be necessary (Szpiro, Johnson & Buckeridge, 2007, p.104). Syndromic