Isolation & Quarantine
Measures in Response to a Smallpox Emergency
Planning
for Effective Implementation of Quarantine Measures
The laws at
all levels must be reviewed to determine if sufficient authorities
currently exist. If not, then they should be modified to provide
the capability to implement the level of quarantine that may be
necessary. An outbreak is not the time for legal challenges to
occur. Planners should also identify those who would be participating
in the initiation and enforcement of different levels of quarantine
and what triggers would determine which isolation/quarantine strategy
is implemented.
Resources for
this review can be found in the CDC Interim Smallpox Response Plan
[http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/smallpox/response-plan/index.asp]
and on the Public Health Law website [http://www.publichealthlaw.net/].
These are focused on United States law, but might give international
planners a framework from which to begin their evaluation.
Planners should
also prepare plans to rapidly activate (and vaccinate) their enforcement
personnel and those who would provide essential services during
a quarantine of an area. These enforcement personnel would include
law enforcement, military and essential service providers (water,
utilities, etc.). Planners should also identify local personnel/organizations
empowered to enforce community measure.
A communications
staff should be working on educational campaigns before an attack.
They should target health care providers and the public as their
primary audiences. Their communications should explain about the
potential need for population quarantine measures so that communities
and populations will be more informed. By doing so, you can help
to improve public compliance during an event.
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