Guardian of Public Health - June 2016

Bureau of EMS, Trauma & Preparedness

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News and Articles

The Strategic National Stockpile’s Unique Role in Zika Prevention

The first thing that comes to mind when people think about the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) is probably a big warehouse with lots of medicines and supplies. What many do not know is that even when the SNS does not have the specific medicines or supplies needed to combat a public health threat, SNS experts can play a key role in working with medical supply chain partners to locate and purchase products during an emergency response. The involvement of the SNS in the Zika virus response is a perfect example of this little-known, but significant, role

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Training & Events

Tracking Environmental Health Data for Public Health Decision Making

Live Webinar - Public Health Grand Rounds

June 21st, 2016

The environment plays an important role in human development and health. Researchers have linked exposures to some environmental hazards with specific diseases. The goal of environmental public health tracking is to protect communities by providing information to federal, state, and local agencies. These agencies, in turn, will use this information to plan, apply, and evaluate public health actions to prevent and control environmentally related diseases.

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Tools & Resources

New Government Accountability Office Report (GAO): Disaster Recovery: FEMA Needs to Assess Its Effectiveness in Implementing the National Disaster Recovery Framework

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) examined the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) implementation of the Nation Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF). This review assessed, the roles and responsibilities of FEMA and state emergency management offices in implementing the NDRF and the extent to which FEMA has worked with selected states to implement the NDRF. 

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About the Guardian

The Guardian of Public Health is a monthly newsletter from the Bureau of EMS, Trauma, and Preparedness (BETP) within the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS). The Guardian aims to provide its readers with relevant content on topics that affect the public health of citizens and communities in Michigan. For questions or comments please contact Kerry Chamberlain at chamberlaink2@michigan.gov.

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The Michigan Update

Southeast Michigan Intentional Food Contamination Event

Joyce Lai - Region 2 South Epidemiologist - Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

In late April, 2016, a local facility contacted law enforcement and FBI about a potential intentional contamination of food products.  The reported contamination event occurred April 24, 2016 in an Ann Arbor retail store and video footage showed an individual spraying an unknown substance on the salad bar and hot food bar area.  

After the facility discarded potentially contaminated food items and cleaned the area, the establishment contacted law enforcement.  On April 26, 2016 the Washtenaw County Public Health Department was notified of the event and further communications with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Communicable Disease Division were made the following day.  A sample of discarded food was sent to the MDHHS Bureau of Laboratories to test for bioagents that may be used in an intentional/bioterrorism event.  A similar sample was sent to the FBI Laboratory for additional testing.

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Michigan Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Units Receive Challenge Award 

Virginia Zimmerman - Michigan Volunteer Registry and Medical Reserve Corp Coordinator

Four Michigan MRC units each recently applied for and received a $15,000 National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) Challenge Award. The Challenge Awards aim to focus on innovation in areas that are aligned with national health initiatives that are also significant at the local level. Community resilience, chronic disease prevention, partners for empowered communities, and mental and emotional wellbeing are four focus areas of which projects must align.

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Research

Genetically Modified (GM) Mosquito Use to Reduce Mosquito-Transmitted Disease in the US: A Community Opinion Survey

Researchers in PLoS Currents Outbreaks surveyed residents of Key West, Florida regarding the use of genetically modified (GM) mosquitos.  The survey had 18 questions and was administered between July 20th, and November 1, 2015 to 456 total households.  The data showed, over half the respondents opposed the use of GM mosquitos in a mosquito control program.  Many were worried about how the GM mosquitos would affect the local ecosystem.  Further the researchers found lower worry about mosquito-borne diseases correlated with opposing the use of GM mosquitos.  They suggest these findings could be used to improve the dialogue on mosquito-borne diseases. 

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