Disaster Preparedness-West Nile Virus
Early interventions by public health departments and communities are warranted in the wake of an outbreak to preserve many lives. As the director of infectious disease in a city experiencing an active threat from the West Nile virus, receiving news of a widespread virus outbreak, I will inform the public health department to mobilize community resources to manage these threats. This is the preliminary step in the city’s disaster preparedness. Disaster preparedness and response are essential to the public health promotion plan. Their role is to assess the community’s exposure to the virus and review the existing outbreak plans (Fatiregun & Isere, 2017). This will enable the public health department to establish a framework for allocating the available resources for the imminent threat from the SARS virus while maintaining control of the West Nile Virus.
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Preparing a response is the next step. In this step, more resources are mobilized, and their capacity to handle the threat is enhanced. This can be attained by using the 8-step training model for disaster preparedness. These steps are educating the participants with knowledge of the virus from literature, surveying the training site, developing the training plan, issuing the plan, rehearsing the plan, executing the training, evaluating the training program, and retraining (Slattery et al., 2009). These processes equip the respondents with the prerequisite knowledge and skills to handle the outbreak.
The communities are also notified of the imminent threat to enable them to prepare for it. They should be educated on the measures for curtailing the spread of the virus. Literature reviews can inform on specific measures that are effective in curtailing the spread of the virus. Monitoring and reviewing responses is the final step. This process involves keeping all plans active and developing policies for disaster response.
References
Fatiregun, A., & Isere, E. (2017). Epidemic preparedness and management: A guide on Lassa fever outbreak preparedness plan. Nigerian Medical Journal, 58(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.4103/0300-1652.218414
Slattery, C., Syvertson, R., & Krill, S. (2009). The Eight Step Training Model: Improving Disaster Management Leadership. Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.2202/1547-7355.1403
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Question 
You are the director of infectious diseases in a city health department, responsible for a large urban community. It is early spring in 2003. For the past two years, your department has been working to control the spread of the West Nile Virus, and you are pleased with the progress so far. This morning, you read about a suspected outbreak of a new disease called SARS, which is alleged to have killed dozens of people in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, birds, especially crows, carry the West Nile virus, which is transmitted among people.
Disaster Preparedness-West Nile Virus
When you check your email to the office, you learn that the World Health Organization has placed several East Asian cities off-limits for all but essential travel. You also understand that Canada has reported deaths they believe are due to SARS. You are now confronted with addressing a new and virulent contagious disease.
Discuss the approach you would adopt in such a situation.
Follow the step-by-step process for disaster preparedness.
Use the following resources, outside resources, and your textbook for this discussion:
Suthar, M. S., Diamond, M. S., & Gale Jr, M. (2013). West Nile virus infection and immunity. Nature Reviews.Microbiology, 11(2), 115-28. doi:http://dx.doi.org.southuniversity.libproxy.edmc.edu/10.1038/nrmicro2950
Mainali, S., Afshani, M., Wood, J. B., & Levin, M. C. (2011). The natural history of West Nile virus infection presenting with West Nile virus meningoencephalitis in a man with a prolonged illness: A case report. Journal of Medical Case Reports, 5(1), 204-204. doi:10.1186/1752-1947-5-204
Slattery, C., Syvertson, R., & Krill, S. J. (2009). The eight-step training model: Improving disaster management leadership. Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 6(1), 8. doi:10.2202/1547-7355.1403
Use your course and textbook readings and the South University Online Library to support your work. As in all assignments, cite your sources in your work and provide references for the citations in APA format.
Your initial posting should be addressed at 150-300 words. Submit your document to this Discussion Area by the due date assigned. Be sure to cite your sources using APA format.