Isolation & Quarantine
Measures in Response to a Smallpox Emergency
Community
Response
Level 1
At
a minimum, a smallpox outbreak would result in travel alerts and
information being released so that the community is aware of the
situation and can make their own decision about how to manage their
risk by controlling their own movements within the community (e.g.
some people may decide themselves not to go to places where there
are lots of people). Level 1 activities would include:
- Travel alerts
and information
- Press releases
- Interagency
partner notifications
- Self-restriction
of movements
Level 2
Would include
those activities implemented in Level 1 plus the issuance of travel
advisories to those outside the community to avoid the area if
possible. There would be a recommendation against those from the
community traveling outside the area unnecessarily, but it would
not be a forced restriction. In addition, public health authorities
could also restrict large public gatherings and the temporary closure
of unessential public places. Level 2 activities would include:
- All of Level
1 activities
- Travel advisories
- Recommendation
against elective travel
- Suspension
of large public gatherings
- Closing of
public places
Level 3
Response would
include all previous measures, but would actively restrict all
travel to avoid the further spread of infection (e.g. closure of
airports, bus stations, train stations, etc.). Level 3 activities
include:
- Level 2 activities
- Restriction
of travel (air, rail, water, motor vehicle and pedestrian)
Level 4
The institution
of the highest level of quarantine, level 4 activities, would mean
the complete cut-off of an area from the outside (i.e. institution
of “Cordon Sanitaire”), with mass vaccination and treatment
taking place within the area. Level 4 activities include:
- Level 3
activities
- “Cordon
Sanitaire”
- Community-wide
interventions (e.g., mass vaccination and treatment)
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