THE NEW JERSEY CENTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS AT UMDNJ

UMDNJ - SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH

>>>NJCPHP News PHlash <<<

JULY 16 - JULY 31
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] Proposed reductions in preparedness funds would leave USA vulnerable to public health emergencies warn public health officials - Medical News Today (7/16/05)

[2] Veterinarians discuss agroterrorism in Minneapolis - AP (7/17/2005)

[3] Bioterror isolation units planned for city hospital - San Francisco Examiner (7/17/05)

[4] U.S. Homeland Security Chief wants big improvements in radiation detection technology -Global Security Newswire (7/20/05)

[5] Agency hopes to help poor prepare for attack -The Washington Post (7/24/05)

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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

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

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

[5] Medical, Psychological and Environmental Surveillance Needs for Workers Involved in Incident Response under the National Response Plan

[6] SAVE THE DATE: 2nd Annual Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases: "Pandemic flu/avian influenza

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III. ANNOUNCEMENTS

[1] TOPOFF 3 AFTER ACTION REPORT now available

[2] AMOP Papers available online

[3] North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness FOCUS on Field Epidemiology

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I. PREPAREDNESS NEWS:

[1] Proposed reductions in preparedness funds would leave USA vulnerable to publichealth emergencies warn public health officials - Medical News Today (7/16/05)
The Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) and the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) urged the Senate Appropriations Committee to reject cuts in public health preparedness funding. The proposed cuts would force state and local health departments to downsize critical preparedness programs, whose sustainment is essential.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=27505

[2] Veterinarians discuss agroterrorism in Minneapolis - AP (7/17/2005)
In a recent joint convention of the American Veterinary Association and the World Veterinary Congress, experts discussed the usage of animal diseases as a potential terrorist weapon. Concerns include the ease of which to obtain samples of animal diseases, their high contagion factor, the inadeqaucy of laboratories to deal with foreign diseases and the vast effects on livestock.
http://www.grandforks.com/mld/grandforks/news/12155743.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

[3] Bioterror isolation units planned for city hospital - San Francisco Examiner (7/17/05)
The state of California, in cooperation with the National Bioterrorism Hospital Preparedness Program is planning to set up cutting edge isolation units at San Francisco General Hospital. The units, part of a "Regional Tertiary Bioterrorism Event Response Facility" would permit the treatment of highly contagious diseases to be treated, e.g. plague, smallpox.
http://www.sfexaminer.com/articles/2005/07/18/news/20050718_ne03_bioterror.txt

[4] U.S. Homeland Security Chief wants big improvements in
radiation detection technology -Global Security Newswire (7/20/05)
Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff stated that better technology is needed to improve detection of nuclear and radiological agents entering the United States. Higher quality detectors with more sensitive discriminatory abilities are needed, given that some of the most dangerous materials only emit a relatively low level of radiation.
http://www.nti.org/d_newswire/issues/2005/7/20/538A8816-205B-4FCC-8068-3F631BF14E5B.html

[5] Agency hopes to help poor prepare for attack -The Washington Post (7/24/05)
Maryland's Frederick County Community Action Agency was the recipient of grant to help the area's poor individuals and families in preparing for public health emergencies. It is difficult to help such groups prepare, for example, how would they stock up on food and supplies when many go hungry everyday? Also many lower-income individuals live near prime terrorist targets such as chemical plants and military bases. Amongst the agency's plans is to create an emergency preparedness video to be played in food banks and teach individuals about reporting suspicious activities.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/23/AR2005072300940_pf.html

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II. UPCOMING EVENTS:

[1] SAVE THE DATE: 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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[5] Medical, Psychological and Environmental Surveillance Needs for Workers Involved in Incident Response under the National Response Plan

(THE NEW JERSEY CENTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS AT UMDNJ and the JOHNS HOPKINS CENTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS)

WHEN: Tuesday September 27th & Wednesday September 28th

WHERE: The East Brunswick Hilton, East Brunswick, NJ

WHAT: A 2-day workshop involving nationally recognized experts in the areas of medical surveillance, environmental monitoring, and worker training -- drawing from academia, labor, industry, government, and the military. The conference will consist of panel
presentations from experts who have been involved in developing and implementing surveillance programs following disasters, addressing:
* post-disaster surveillance
* integration of exposure assessment into medical surveillance and evaluation
* critical factors in implementing surveillance programs
* pre- and post-disaster planning, training, surveillance and risk communication needs for first responders, first receivers, skilled support personnel, and related workforces

COST: free; lunch and dinner reception included

CONTACT: For more information, or to register online

please visit www.njcphp.org

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[6] SAVE THE DATE: 2nd Annual Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases:"Pandemicflu/avian influenza

Nursing Center for Bioterrorism and Infectious Diseases Preparedness

WHEN: Thursday October 27th, 2005

WHERE: The Woodbridge Hilton, Woodbridge, NJ

WHAT: Keynote speaker: Gina Kolata-Science Reporter, The New York Times
-Author of "Flu: The Story of the Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918 and the Search of the Virus That Caused It"

CONTACT: For more information, please contact:
bioterrorism@nightingale.rutgers.edu

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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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The latest issue of FOCUS is now available! Access it at:
http://www.sph.unc.edu/nccphp/focus/issuelist.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.