THE NEW JERSEY CENTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS AT UMDNJ

UMDNJ - SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

>>>NJCPHP News PHlash <<<

JUNE 16 - JUNE 30
2 0 0 5

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T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S:

I. PREPAREDNESS NEWS

[1] State releases homeland security funding to counties - AP (6/27/05)

[2] Johns Hopkins receives grant to train clergy corps in preparedness - The JHU Gazette (6/27/05)

[3] Vaccine developed by Canada's national lab shows promise against lassa fever - The Canadian Press (6/29/05)

[4] PNAS publishes bioterror paper, after all - The Scientist (6/29/05)

[5] Panel affirms radiation link to cancer - AP (6/29/05)

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II. UPCOMING EVENTS

[1] Training for Health Educators on the Mental Health/ Psychosocial Aspects of Public Health Emergencies

[2] Nuclear Emergency Planning: The New Face of Emergency Planning: Terrorism, Security, and the Public (8/9 - 8/12 2005)

[3] Psychosocial Aspects of Bioterrorism & Disaster Response for Public Health Professionals

[4] 14th Summer Institute for Public Health Practice: Preparedness

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III. ANNOUNCEMENTS

[1] TOPOFF 3 AFTER ACTION REPORT now available

[2] AMOP Papers available online

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I. PREPAREDNESS NEWS:

[1] State releases homeland security funding to counties - AP (6/27/05)
$21.7 million in federal homeland security funding is being distributed amongst New Jersey's 21 counties. Essex and Hudson counties in northern New Jersey are the largest recipients of funding, who along with the rest of the state will be using the money to increase security, develop buffer zones around vulnerable facilities, increase the amount of first responder gear and implement more training exercises.
http://www.nj.com/newsflash/jersey/index.ssf?/base/news-15/1119907104126340.
xml&storylist=jersey

[2] Johns Hopkins receives grant to train clergy corps in preparedness - The JHU Gazette (6/27/05)
The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, along with the University's School of Public Health, Center for Public Health Preparedness and others were the recipients of a HRSA grant to develop a diaster preparedness curriculum and pilot program for religious leaders. Over 200 religious group members will partake in the program, which will train them to deal with the mental health response, including spiritual needs, following a public health disaster.
http://www.jhu.edu/~gazette/2005/27jun05/27clergy.html

[3] Vaccine developed by Canada's national lab shows promise against lassa fever - The Canadian Press (6/29/05)
Researchers at the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute were able to protect monkeys from contracting lassa fever, using a Canadian- made vaccine. An immunization for lassa fever, which has been tagged as a prime bioterrorism agent, is expected to be completed in at least five years, based on the preliminary animal vaccine.
http://www.canada.com/health/story.html?id=bbce93e5-95f0-4685-b48a-ccee77bb8846&page=1

[4] PNAS publishes bioterror paper, after all - The Scientist (6/29/05)
A paper by a Stanford University professor was released this week, after a month long publication delay mandated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The paper discussed in detail how bioterrorists could use traces of botulinum toxin to contaminate the U.S. milk supply, potentially killing hundreds of thousands of people. The federal health department found the paper to contain information useful to terrorists; however, it was published this week by the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
http://www.the-scientist.com/news/20050629/01

[5] Panel affirms radiation link to cancer - AP (6/29/05)
A National Academy of Sciences panel recently concluded that radiation, even in low doses over a lifetime, poses a cancer risk to humans. The findings may change warnings of maximum radiation levels at nuclear sites and abandoned reactors, and challenges long-standing beliefs that radiation in low doses is not harmful, and may even be beneficial.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/radiation_risks

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II. UPCOMING EVENTS:

[1] Training for Health Educators on the Mental Health/Psychosocial Aspects of Public Health Emergencies
[THE NEW JERSEY CENTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS AT UMDNJ, in partnership with the NJ DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND SENIOR SERVICES and the NJ SOCIETY OF PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATORS]

WHEN: Tuesday, August 9th

WHERE: Embassy Suites Hotel, Piscataway, NJ

COST: Free

**CHES credits available

CONTACT: Emily Perry at perryem@umdnj.edu or 732-235-9703

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[2] Nuclear Emergency Planning: The New Face of Emergency Planning: Terrorism, Security, and the Public
(HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH)

WHEN: Tuesday August 9th - Friday August 12th

WHERE: Harvard School of Public Health, Kresge Building, Boston, MA

WHAT: Learn, or update your knowledge of principles and regulatory requirements for responding to a radiological emergency, and the changing roles and rules from federal and state agencies regarding:

• emergency preparedness for terrorist activities
• new federal framework for Homeland Security
• managing terrorist incidents involving radioactive materials
• lessons learned in communicating with the media and public updates on emergency preparedness issues for nuclear utilities

The Harvard School of Public Health is the designated site of a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Education and Research Center(ERC) for Occupational Safety/Health.

*** 21 AAHP points (American Academy of Health Physics)
3.5 CM points, ABIH points (American Board of Industrial Hygiene)
2.2 CEUs, Harvard School of Public Health

COST: Register by June 3, 2005: $1,195
Register after June 3, 2005: $1,295

Program fee includes:

• comprehensive take-home reference manual
• continental breakfasts
• daily lunches and refreshment breaks
• Harvard certificate of attendance

CONTACT: For more information, please visit:
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/ccpe/programs/NEP.shtml#fee

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[3] Psychosocial Aspects of Bioterrorism & Disaster Response for Public Health Professionals
(OFFICE OF PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE, UMDNJ-SPH)

WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday August 10 - New Brunswick, 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM
Thursday August 11 - Scotch Plains, 8:30 AM - 3:00 PM

WHAT: training course for Local Health Department Staff, Public Health
Nurses, County Mental Health Administrators, Emergency Response
Teams, and Mental Health Counselors

*** 5.0 CEUs, CHES, Health Officers, Nurses

CONTACT: Phil McCabe at 732-235-8229 or mccabept@umdnj.edu

Or visit:
https://ophp.umdnj.edu/wconnect/wc.dll?acecode%7EGroupCatalog%7EGROUP%7ESEMP
SY%7EPsychosocial+Aspects+of+Bioterrorism+&+Disaster+Response+for+Public+Hea
lth+Professionals%7ESEM

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[4] 14th Summer Institute for Public Health Practice: Preparedness

(NORTHWEST CENTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS, UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH & COMMUNITY MEDICINE]

WHEN: Monday August 22nd - Friday August 26th

WHERE: William H. Gates School of Law
University of Washington Campus, Seattle, WA

WHAT: This year's Institute is organized around the theme Public
Health Preparedness: Tools for the Frontline. Case-based
studies woven through the week's training — in public
health law, financial accountability, leadership in
emergencies, epidemic investigation, study design,
geospatial analysis — will be generally applicable to
public health practice.

Institute Tracks:
- Introduction to Epidemiologic Methods
- Intermediate Epidemiologic Methods
- Public Health Management: A Case-Based Approach
- Leadership Challenges During Public Health Emergencies
- Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

COST: $1,000 - $1,600 (depending on track selection and
date of registration; early registration ends 7/17)

CONTACT: For more information, please visit:
http://healthlinks.washington.edu/nwcphp/niphp/

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For a complete listing of preparedness training events and educational course offerings, please visit the ASPH Centers for Public Health Preparedness Online Education Calendar at:
http://www.asph.org/acphp/educationCalendar.cfm
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III. ANNOUNCEMENTS

[1] TOPOFF 3 AFTER ACTION REPORT now available

In compliance with TOPOFF 3 protocol, NJCPHP has developed an After Action Report (AAR), based on the experiences and observations of NJCPHP faculty and staff involved, for use in the exercise evaluation process. Center representatives were present at various locations throughout New Jersey as part of the TOPOFF III Full Scale Exercise, conducted this past April.

For more information about this report or to obtain a copy, please contact Chris Clarke at 732-235-9096 or clarkec1@umdnj.edu

[2] Environment Canada's 28th Arctic Marine Oilspill (AMOP)
Technical Seminar

NJCPHP faculty and staff members Glenn Paulson, Drew Harris, Emily Perry, Rod Turpin, Carl Schopfer, Oksana Hucul, Christopher Clarke, Denison Scott-Dimenna and Christine Scott participated in this year's AMOP Seminar's Special Session on Counter-Terrorism with the submission of five papers, presented at the June conference in Calgary, AB, Canada. To view the presentations, please visit www.njcphp.org/amop2005.htm.

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For more information, or to view the NJCPHP News PHlash archive, please visit us at
www.njcphp.org

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Please send any subscription inquiries to huculon@umdnj.edu.

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The New Jersey Center for Public Health Preparedness at UMDNJ, UMDNJ-School of Public Health does not claim responsibility for accuracy of facts and information presented.  All opinions expressed are those of the original authors and do not represent the views of NJCPHP staff or affiliates.  NJCPHP News PHlash, a bi-weekly news bulletin, is distributed free of charge electronically, with the intention of sharing information of interest and value to our subscribers.