States Boost Emergency Health Response

Feb. 20, 2008 -- State and local health departments are improving their capacity to respond to public health emergencies but still have a long way to go to meet federal guidelines, a government report concluded Wednesday.

The report shows that states have more labs and scientists capable of tracking disease outbreaks or responding to potential terrorist attacks. But it also finds that preparedness varies widely among cities and states and that not enough of them have plans in place to distribute emergency medicines and other countermeasures.

Since 2002, Washington has spent nearly $6 billion beefing up state and local health departments so they can better respond to potential terrorist attacks or disease outbreaks such as E.coli or pandemic flu.

"I would give an 'A'" for effort and progress by states, said Richard Besser, MD, the CDC's director for terrorism preparedness and emergency response. "In terms of the amount of work to be done, I would say, absolutely enormous."

The report concluded that most states have hired more scientists. Nine in 10 Americans now live within about 100 miles of a lab capable of testing for germs and biological agents according to CDC standards.

Less than half the states did year-round flu surveillance in 2001; now all 50 do, the report concludes.

Slower Progress

But progress has been spotty in other areas. Only three-quarters of states have documented plans in place to distribute supplies from federal emergency medical stockpiles in the event of a disaster.

"Countermeasure distribution is a critical function," Besser said.

And though many states have run drills testing how their communications systems work when the power goes out, several states -- including Texas and Vermont -- have not, the report states.

CDC Director Julie Gerberding, MD, MPH, said complacency was the biggest problem for public health departments and for Washington.

Every state saw a drop in preparedness funding from Washington between 2006 and 2007. Congress spent just under $900 million last year on health department readiness.