Merced County Bioterrorism Preparedness Plan
On Oct. 8, 2002, the Merced County Board of Supervisors approved the Merced County Department of Public Health’s (MCDPH) Comprehensive Strategic Local Bioterrorism Preparedness Plan (BT Plan) document. The MCDPH included this BT Plan in its application that was submitted to the California Department of Health Services in October 2002 for federal CDC monies to cover the costs of local bioterrorism preparedness and response activities planned through Aug. 31, 2003. Notification of the final approval of the submitted BT Plan for fiscal year was received in March 2003.
The BT Plan serves as the framework for a number of specific critical capacities and benchmarks to be achieved during the Plan development process dealing with:
The MCDPH has utilized these CDC funds for various bioterrorism preparedness and response planning activities and to fund four additional MCDPH staff positions: a Communicable Disease Investigator (to provide more timely and comprehensive field/outbreak investigation capabilities), a Morbidity Clerk (to enhance disease reporting response and provide clerical support for the MCDPH Bioterrorism Response staff), a Support Services Analyst (to assist in the coordination of planning and assessment activities including the conducting of various meetings, and maintain a local Bioterrorism Web site), and an Emergency Services Specialist (to help coordinate mass vaccination, emergency response/disaster planning activities including bioterrorism related training exercises).
Another important element of the MCDPH’s BT Plan involves establishing a Merced County Bioterrorism Advisory Committee with representatives from law enforcement agencies, fire departments, first responders, community health centers, hospitals, volunteer organizations, and OES. Membership includes mental health and social service representatives as well as other local organizations not ordinarily directly involved with bioterrorism-related activities, such as the local Red Cross Chapter and United Way.
By-laws were prepared with participation of the Committee members and quarterly meetings are currently held to review BT Plan activities and progress, provide a forum to coordinate local preparedness activities, discuss local preparedness and response training needs and activities, and to generally serve as a Community Communicable Disease Surveillance and Control Committee.
For more information regarding the MCDPH’s BT Plan, or if you are interested in participating on the Merced County Bioterrorism Advisory Committee, please contact:
Chuck Baucom, Emergency Medical Services Administrator
And Bioterrorism Plan Coordinator
(209) 381-1255
cbaucom@co.merced.ca.us
Richard Rios, MPH, PH Program Manager
(209) 381-1130
rrios@co.merced.ca.us
