Dr. Diane
Matuszak, from the Maryland Department of Health and
Dr. Mark Smolinski, from the Nuclear Threat Initiative,
will join us to discuss early detection and
reporting of health threats. They will highlight the role of professional
training, public health surveillance programs, and communication between health
care providers and public health officials. Since the mid-1990’s, the government
has developed epidemiologic (public health) surveillance programs through both
the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Department of Defense.
Domestically, the CDC is working to connect health care facilities to state and
national public health officials. Internationally, the World Health Organization
is working with both agencies to detect and track human infections with specific
pathogens and toxins. However, several key questions remain unanswered. How
effective is the system? Can we meet the need for accurate and reliable
detection and communication – and at what cost?
