Public Health Practices

Many of the events and responses involved in this practice are still undergoing investigation, so the description below pertains only to local mitigation efforts.

From 2006 until the outbreak of H1N1 in spring 2009, the University of Wisconsin Madison (UW-Madison) made pandemic influenza planning a priority for campus organizations and departments. In 2006, initial support for pandemic planning came directly from the Chancellor's office.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Office of Public Health's (DHH OPH) longstanding good relationship with the Louisiana State Police was critically important during the 2009 H1N1 response. For example, State Police transported large volumes of influenza samples from regional locations across the state to the DHH OPH State Laboratory.

A collaborative effort between public health and local courts resulted in a document that aims to prepare the court system for an influenza pandemic. The guidance provides a local judicial system with a thorough and succinct overview of guidelines, procedures, and specific directions to follow during a pandemic. Guidelines are built on the premise that a local court system must maintain its functional operations during an emergency to ensure justice for the people.

A laminated set of cards provides first responders with education on personal protective equipment (PPE) and also identifies which types of PPE are appropriate for particular emergencies and contamination zones. Although most emergency responders will possess training in PPE use, these cards could serve as a pocket guide for first responders who may be augmenting an emergency response effort.