xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"> “Early Outbreak Alert”

U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

http://www.immunizationinfo.org/ 

“Early Outbreak Alert”

U.S. News & World Report (www.usnews.com) (11/19/01) Vol. 131,

No. 21, P. 52; Hawkins, Dana

The Rapid Syndrome Validation Project (RSVP) and the “sentinel” system used by New York City are devices being developed to assist physicians and other health care professionals in identifying epidemics or bioterrorist attacks.  RSVP is a web-based program that notifies public health officials when high numbers of certain symptoms appear in a geographic area, while the sentinel alerts the public health department to increased nonprescription sales, lab results, and 911 calls that address flu-like symptoms.  RSVP only send the symptoms and patient’s zip code to public health officials, which allows patients’ specific information to remain confidential while giving officials enough time to treat patients adequately for bioterrorist diseases.  The best solution would be sensors that can sniff out bioterrorist agents, but those devices have not been developed.

 

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.