By Sarah Green
KHI News Service
TOPEKA, Sept. 28
A national clearinghouse of information for responding to pandemic influenza has cited the Kansas Department of Health and Environment”s plan as a promising practice.
The Center for Infectious Disease Research ‘ Policy at the University of Minnesota and the Pew Center on the States included KDHE”s “Community Disease Containment Toolbox,” in a national database of resources available to all levels of government. The toolbox was designed to help communities develop local pandemic response plans.
“We”ve worked very hard to develop guidance that will serve Kansas well in the event of pandemic influenza,” said Dr. Howard Rodenberg, director of the KDHE Division of Health and state health officer. “We are extremely excited that other states will now have the opportunity to benefit from those efforts.”
Government officials and others involved in pandemic preparedness may access the plans on the infectious disease center”s Web site,
http://www.PandemicPractices.org
. The database has more than 130 practices submitted from four countries, 22 states and 30 communities. The database may be searched by areas of interest or by state.
“It is intended to facilitate an exchange of ideas between government officials and others involved in preparedness,” said Mike Heideman, a spokesman for KDHE.
KDHE also may use information from other states, accessed through the database, to refine its preparedness plans, Heideman said.
“We”re always looking to improve our own efforts in Kansas so we can be as prepared as possible,” he said.
KDHE”s “toolbox,” a project with the Kansas Association of Local Health Departments and the Kansas Association of Counties, provides information about isolating and monitoring individuals who have the flu to efficiently contain the disease within the community.
Lily Akings, administrator of the Barton County Health Department, said the county has used the toolbox to develop several of its preparedness plans, and has shared the information with other organizations and people who would be involved in the event of a mass casualty: hospitals, law enforcement, emergency management personnel, and the local mental health center.
“We”re using it as a standard tool,” she said. “If we have questions (about our plans) we”ll go back and look at the sections that are appropriate. It”s been helpful for our county.”
-Sarah Green is a staff writer for KHI News Service, which specializes in coverage of health issues facing Kansans. She can be reached at
sgreen@khi.org
or at 785-233-5443, ext. 118.