Public Health Preparedness at a Price: Illinois
Publication Date: January 2004
Publisher: The Century Foundation; Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Author(s): B.J. Turnock
Research Area: Health
Type: Report
Abstract:
The threat of terrorist attacks and bioterrorism raised public health preparedness as a national priority and elicited substantial resources for improving the public health infrastructure. In June 2002 Congress authorized the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 allowing for almost $1.6 billion to enhance federal, state, territorial, and local efforts and ability to respond to bioterrorism, acute outbreaks of infectious disease, and other public health emergencies. In response, The Century Foundation began a Public Health Preparedness and Bioterrorism Project to examine how states and cities are using the new federal resources. This report presents findings from an analysis of public health preparedness activities in the state of Illinois. Data and information were gathered through unstructured interviews with government officials representing public health agencies at the state and local level, including the city of Chicago. Interviews were conducted between May and July, 2003. The author also attended meetings and briefings on topics related to public health preparedness and response; reviewed public records, including preparedness planning documents; and scanned Web sites of relevant federal, state, and local agencies. This report provides background history on public health in Illinois, describes federal support efforts, gives a current status report on Illinois preparedness efforts and discusses the current and future predicted costs. The current status section reports on preparedness planning, surveillance and epidemiologic capacity, laboratory capacity, health alert network development, risk communication, education and training, hospital preparedness efforts and public health system development. The author concludes that considerable work has been accomplished in Illinois, though much remains to be done. Future progress will require continued devotion of both financial and non-financial resources.