Health Department to hold bioterrorism response drill across Southern Utah
ST. GEORGE — The Southwest Utah Public Health Department, in partnership with almost 90 agencies, businesses and organizations, is participating in a bioterrorism response drill Thursday to practice distributing medication in case of an attack.
Approximately 408 groups across Southern Utah have an agreement with the Health Department to act as points of distribution, and 90 of these PODs are participating in the drill. In case of a bioterrorist attack, these distribution points would pick up medicine from the Health Department to treat the disease and distribute them to their employees and their families in order to keep their agency or organization functioning during the crisis.
The Health Department’s objectives for the plan is to communicate with their partners, promote wellness by identifying the threat and its prevention and prevent the spread of the disease with medication and other mitigation measures such as hand washing.
As part of Thursday drill, PODs will practice receiving a notification of the attack, going to pick up simulation medicine, filling out necessary forms and distributing it to staff and their families. The other parts of the plan have been tested in previous exercises, said Paulette Valentine, director of the Southwest Utah Public Health Department Emergency Preparedness and Response division.
Clients and patients may also receive the distributed medicine depending on the organization, and other community members would be able to access the same medication through other locations. The medicine is provided by the Federal Strategic National Stockpile, which is funded through federal taxes and stores supplies to be quickly distributed to people for free in times of crisis such as a bioterrorism attack or natural disaster.
The threat of a bioterrorism attack in Southern Utah is relatively low, Valentine said, but the Health Department is required to have a plan in place. They have held drills such as this before, including one in 2014 when the drill scenario was how to respond in case travelers brought a disease to the area after an attack in Las Vegas.
“The Public Health Department has a responsibility to prevent disease and respond to a disease threat,” Valentine said.
PODs participating in the drill include fire departments, police departments, EMS, hospitals, Dixie State University, Southern Utah University, Bryce Canyon National Park, long-term care facilities, hospice, Ruby’s Inn, pharmacies and many different health departments and offices.
“We live in a great place where so many people are willing to assist the Public Health Department in their role and what is needed on our end, because we have a limited staff and limited resources available,” Valentine said. “We appreciate everyone’s participation.”
The drill is being held as part of National Preparedness Month, which occurs annually in September. In addition to the bioterrorism drill, the Health Department will be sponsoring an annual “flu shootout” during September and October.
Businesses and organizations interested in also becoming a POD can email Valentine at pvalentine@swuhealth.org for more information or to apply.
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