Bioterrorism Resources and Guidelines
LOCAL
If a physician or other health care provider suspects that a patient has contracted an infectious disease such as anthrax, physicians in Cuyahoga County should contact the Cuyahoga County Board of Health as soon as possible.
The Cuyahoga County Department of Health may be reached by phone at (216) 443-7500. In addition the Cuyahoga County Board of Health web site contains useful information that may be downloaded at any time.
Cuyahoga County Board of Health
The AMC/NOMA plans to continue to work on a local level to keep physicians and the public apprised of developments or issues that may arise on a local level.
The AMC/NOMA web site will provide frequently asked questions, public information and other data for our physician members and the public.
STATE:
Sections from the Ohio Administrative Code, such as Chapter 3701-3 on “Communicable Diseases and Ailments”, provide guidelines on classes of diseases that should be reported and timelines for disease reporting.
Diseases to be reported, by class
http://www.odh.state.oh.us/Rules/Final/Chap3/FR3_02.PDF
Rule definitions: http://www.odh.state.oh.us/Rules/Final/Chap3/FR3_01.PDF
Reportable Disease Notification rules:
http://www.odh.state.oh.us/Rules/Final/Chap3/FR3_03.PDF
Other ODH Resources:
The Health Alert Network (HAN) is a technological resource which was developed to facilitate communication between local health departments regarding emergency alerts. As information is received through HAN, it is then processed by individual local health departments and then communicated to the appropriate parties, usually via their web site.
A “Frequently Asked Questions fact sheet on Bioterrorism” has been posted on the ODH web site and may be obtained through this link: http://www.odh.state.oh.us/ODHPrograms/DisPrep/Disasterinfo/faqOct13.pdf . This FAQ includes answers to questions on the likelihood of attack, appropriate use of vaccines and antiobiotics, answers regarding use of gas masks and consumption of tap water, questions about stockpiling and precautionary use of antibiotics, and family preparation and precaution tips.
For additional information, check the Ohio Department of Health “Alerts and Warnings” page at http://www.odh.state.oh.us/Alerts/Alertmain.htm.
NATIONAL:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Resources
The CDC has updated www.cdc.gov to provide timely information regarding the anthrax and bioterrorism scares around the United States.
CDC site with instructions and articles on biological preparedness and agents
CDC guidelines for use of anthrax vaccines
CDC guidelines for the use of smallpox vaccine
CDC statement about anthrax for the general public, from CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2001/HEALTH/conditions/10/12/anthrax.qanda
AMA web site for disaster preparedness containing consensus statements on biological weapons agents
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/6206.html
AMA web site listing major biological agents and appropriate diagnosis and treatments
http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/6215.html
U.S. Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases – wealth of information and links for biological defense
Federal Emergency Management Agency
The Merck Manual online, containing excellent clinical information on infectious diseases.
http://www.merck.com/pubs/mmanual
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; - includes FAQs on anthrax and biological agents
Johns Hopkins Center for Civilian Biodefense Studies – primary information and links to governmental information on diagnosis and treatment of biological agents.
http://www.hopkins-biodefense.org/
The AMC/NOMA will continue to provide updates and new information as it becomes available. Physicians interested in becoming members of the AMC/NOMA may fill out a membership application online and forward it to the AMC/NOMA staff for processing.
Academy of Medicine of Cleveland/Northern Ohio Medical Association (AMC/NOMA)
6000 Rockside Woods Blvd. Ste. 150
Independence, Ohio 44131
(216) 520-1000 – phone
(216) 520-0999 – fax