Health emergency response

The University's Emergency Response Team meets to plan relief efforts soon after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans.

AHC-OER is responsible for the creation, maintenance, testing, and activation of health emergency response systems on campus including  24/7 response capabilities, Health Emergency Response team, Pandemic Influenza Response Team, Health Department Operations Center, U of M Medical Reserve Corps, and Health Emergencies website.

What is a health emergency?

A health emergency is the rare situation that creates the potential for widespread illness, possibly death, among a group of people.

 

Examples of health emergencies:

•    Outbreak of bacterial meningitis
•    A large food borne outbreak
•    Act of bioterrorism such as an intentional release of anthrax spores or another biologic agent
•    Chemical spill or release that results in multiple injuries
•    Influenza pandemic  

Health emergencies are often long-term events lasting for weeks or even months.