Media Release

For: Immediate Release
Date: December 3, 2002
Contact: Robert J. Marshall, PhD 222-1017

Rhode Island Submits Smallpox Plan to HHS
Plan Outlines Response to Pre- and Post-Outbreak Situations

Today the RI Department of Health (HEALTH), on behalf of the State of Rhode Island, submitted plans for responding to the potential use of smallpox by terrorists.

"These plans result from the collaboration lead by HEALTH with several other state agencies, health care organizations, municipalities and community groups," said Patricia A. Nolan, MD, MPH, Director of HEALTH. "The plans incorporate what we and our partners learned from past experiences, such as the meningitis immunization campaign of 1998, as well as federal guidance on emergency response against smallpox. We will continue to refine our plans through exercises involving the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile (NPS) to assure that we are prepared if there is ever a smallpox case."

The US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) requested plans from all states as part of a national effort to prepare the nation for possible terrorist activities. The RI plans address two phases of preparation: emergency response to actual cases of human smallpox; and operation of a voluntary program for the vaccination of a strategic reserve of health care, public safety and public health workers in advance of any human cases. The descriptions exclude some specifics such as individual names and facility locations due to security concerns.

The emergency response plan (to actual human cases) includes a central, state-controlled infectious disease hospital, in collaboration with the RI Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals (MHRH); hospital emergency departments prepared to recognize, diagnose, treat and transfer smallpox patients; and a state-controlled patient transport system. The voluntary program creates a "strategic reserve" of vaccinated health care, public safety and public health workers. The plan also involves a central, state-operated clinic with very high quality control over screening volunteers, monitoring and treating potential adverse effects.

The federal government requested these plans to prepare for potential threats by terrorists to use smallpox as a biological weapon. Smallpox is a serious viral infection transmitted from human to human. No human cases have been reported anywhere in the world since 1978, but the US population lacks protection since routine vaccination ended decades ago.

For a copy of Rhode Island’s emergency and voluntary, strategic reserve plans for smallpox log onto http://www.health.ri.gov/environment/biot/smallpox.pdf

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