TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to work with City Departments and local Medical Centers to create an Infectious Disease Emergency Response Plan (IDEP) and report back to City Council within 30 days.
DISCUSSION
Today's infectious disease challenges are broader and more complex than they were in years past. Infectious disease emergencies are circumstances caused by biological agents, including organisms such as bacteria, viruses or toxins with the potential for significant illness or death in the population. The Infectious Disease Emergencies Response (IDER) Plan may be used in situations that include naturally occurring outbreaks (e.g., measles, mumps, meningococcal disease), emerging infectious diseases (e.g., SARS, pandemic influenza, emboli), and bioterrorism.
As a local government municipality, we must be prepared with an emergency plan in place to assist the public while reducing any concerns that a possible spread of an infectious disease can cause. The plan should include all the steps that could be taken in a pandemic or epidemic emergency. A "pandemic" is a widespread
outbreak of a communicable disease, passing as multiple waves of illness in human populations worldwide. An "epidemic" is an illness that impact smaller geographic areas.
The plan includes but not limited to training drills, public notification and instructions for prevention, as well as, any necessary treatment areas such as isolation or quarantine. The Infectious Disease Emergency Response Plan reduces illness and death.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no significant cost for this item.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
DEE ANDREWS
COUNCILMAN, SIXTH DISTRICT
LENA GONZALEZ
COUNCILWOMAN, FIRST DISTRICT
STACY MUNGO
COUNCILWOMAN, FIFTH DISTRICT