emergency preparedness Archives

How Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands rebuilt public health after catastrophic hurricanes

By Melanie Padgett Powers, writer In 2017, Hurricanes Irma and Maria devastated Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands in the Caribbean, forcing public health…

COVID-19 and biosafety: Perspectives and lessons learned from a public health laboratory

September 22, 2020

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By Gregory Hovan, Microbiology Manager I, Delaware Public Health Laboratory The United States has more COVID-19 confirmed cases and deaths than any other nation, as…

The importance of sustained federal funding for public health

July 30, 2020

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By Stephanie Barahona, associate specialist, Public Health Preparedness and Response, APHL and Sam Abrams, specialist, Public Health Preparedness and Response, APHL As hospitals across the…

Lab Culture Ep. 20: 20 Years of the Laboratory Response Network

October 17, 2019

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This year marks 20 years since the inception of the Laboratory Response Network (LRN). Founded by APHL, CDC and the FBI, the LRN exists to…

CDC Emergency Operations Center: Always on Alert

May 2, 2016

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By Tyler Wolford, senior specialist, Laboratory Response Network, APHL Positioned among administrative offices, high containment laboratories and extensive corridors at the US Centers for Disease…

MERS-CoV: Why We Are Not Panicking

May 15, 2014

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By Tyler Wolford, Specialist, Laboratory Response Network, Public Health Preparedness and Response Program; and Stephanie Chester, Senior Specialist, Influenza Program, Infectious Disease Program, APHL By now you have…

USAMRIID: Biodefense from the Cold War to Present Day

January 8, 2014

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By Chris Chadwick, Specialist, Public Health Preparedness and Response, Tyler Wolford, Specialist, LRN, and Kara MacKeil, Associate Specialist, Public Health Preparedness and Response Many of…

Sarin Gas Attacks in Syria: What if it happened in the US?

November 19, 2013

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By Surili Sutaria Patel, Senior Specialist, Environmental Health, APHL “It is the worst use of chemical weapons on civilians in the 21st century,” said United…

Looking Back at Superstorm Sandy: Preparedness for the Public Health Laboratory

October 29, 2013

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By: Scott Hughes, PhD, Chief of Emergency Preparedness & Response, New York City Public Health Laboratory; and Christopher Chadwick, MS, Specialist, Public Health Preparedness and…

What Exactly Does the Shutdown Mean for Public Health?

October 4, 2013

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As we face day three of the federal government shutdown, we are hearing more about the deeply felt impact on our federal partners. While we…