News and Articles

Huge Genome Study Dissects Ebola Outbreak's Spread

The largest genome sample ever analyzed for a human epidemic reveals that the West Africa epidemic unfolded with small, overlapping outbreaks as the virus spread over short distances and that urban settings amplified the spread.

Meanwhile, another study harnessed different advanced scientific tools in the blood of a single sick patient to detail gene-level response during infection.

Huge Genome Study Dissects Ebola Outbreak's Spread>>

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Training & Events

Special Pathogen and Ebola Virus Disease Conference

East Lansing, MI

This conference titled Special Pathogens and Ebola Virus Disease: Handle with care!  Decedent transport, care and family support will be held on June 5, 2017, Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center: 219 S. Harrison Rd., East Lansing, MI 48824.  This conference will be directed toward personnel from EMS, hospitals, funeral directors, crematory directors, tribal health, local public health, behavioral health, emergency management and others interested in medical/public health preparedness. Registration is now open in MI-TRAIN (course ID 1070003).  Hotel rooms are available at a group rate until May 11, 2017. 

Psychological First Aid Train the Trainer Course

Okemos, Grand Rapids, and Harris, Michigan

June 19, 21 and 23, 2017

This Train the Trainer course is designed to aid in the preparedness and response capabilities of long-term care staff in the care of residents, caregivers and family members in disaster and non-disaster situations. Upon completion of the course, attendees will have the ability to provide training in psychological first aid techniques to other members of their staff and community

Must have completed basic Psychological First Aid prior to registration.

Registration is on MI-TRAIN at Course ID: 1070137

Contact Kerry Chamberlain chamberlaink2@michigan.gov with questions and registration issues.

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Tools & Resources

Best Practices for Incorporating Social Media Into Exercises

This 41-page report discusses how agencies and organizations can integrate social media into exercises, provides suggestions for the planning processes and methods for conducting the exercise and evaluation, and lists challenges associated with using social media in exercises, areas of future research, and case study examples for agencies. It details best practices for consideration when integrating social media into exercises, including objectives for doing so (e.g., using social media for communications or leveraging information from social media to support operational decision-making); and social media's role in exercise design.

Best Practices for Incorporating Social Media Into Exercises>>

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• The Michigan Update
• Research

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.

Click here to subscribe to the Guardian

The Michigan Update

MiTracking data portal is now live!

Sue Manente, MA, Division of Environmental Health - Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Division of Environmental Health is pleased to announce its MiTracking data portal is now live! MiTracking makes it easier to learn about possible connections between human health and the environment. The MiTracking program gathers existing Michigan-specific data on environmental hazards and health conditions and makes them available in one online location.

Everyone, from citizen to public health professional, can easily run queries on the interactive data portal, providing users the ability to:

• Search for state and county data by geographic region and time period.
• Compare data across race, age, and gender for some measures.
• Select, download, and print customized tables, charts, and maps.
• Discover trends and measure progress over time.
• Create greater awareness of environmental health concerns in their communities.

Data and information are available on air quality, asthma, cancer, heart attacks, childhood lead exposure, and more. Find the data, information, and additional resources at www.michigan.gov/mitracking. Contact Jill Maras, Program Manager with questions about the MiTracking Program at marasj@michigan.gov or 517-284-4813. 

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Research

Disaster Preparedness in Neonatal Intensive Care Units

This clinical report first briefly reviews disasters that have affected NICUs in the United States and then examines how organizing concepts of mass critical care in pediatrics can be applied to the NICU, including the role of regionalized perinatal systems; disaster-based drills; and training, equipment, medication, and personnel needs. The objective of this report is to help neonatologists and other NICU providers and administrative leaders understand these organizing concepts and develop response plans within their units, hospital institutions, and geographic regions. This report builds on existing American Academy of Pediatrics policies concerning children in disasters, with a focus on the extremely vulnerable NICU population, and also discusses ethical issues related to surge capacity, altered standards, and atypical locations of care, evacuation, triage, and transport.

Disaster Preparedness in Neonatal Intensive Care Units>>

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