States are progressively preparing for an infectious disease outbreak or bioterrorism attack, but 12 states lack disease surveillance systems that are compatible with CDC's National Electronic Disease Surveillance System, according to a report by the not-for-profit Trust for America's Health, Government Health IT reports.
The fifth annual report, called "Ready or Not? Protecting the Public's Health from Disease, Disaster and Bioterrorism," provides emergency preparedness scores for all states based on 10 key indicators, including:
- Operating Internet-based systems;
- Reporting laboratory test results electronically;
- Using an integrated data repository;
- Staging emergency drills;
- Maintaining the ability to test for biological threats; and
- Adopting work force surge protections.
The report found that seven states -- Illinois, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee and Virginia -- met all 10 criteria, while six states accomplished only six of the 10 indicators, the lowest score awarded. The report noted that states earning the lowest scores are making steady progress developing CDC-compatible systems.
Seven states and Washington, D.C., also lack sufficient capabilities to test biological threats, and 13 states do not have sufficient plans to distribute emergency vaccines, antidotes and medical supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile, the report found (Hayes,
Government Health IT, 1/2).