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Report: Wisconsin prepared for crisis

Wisconsin is sufficiently prepared to handle a major public health crisis, according to a report released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Wednesday.

The report, which rated the preparedness of every state and some major cities in a variety of categories relating to emergency health response, found that Wisconsin has adequate infrastructure to respond to such public health disasters as a bioterrorism attack or a pandemic flu outbreak.

Stephanie Marquis, a spokesperson for the state Department of Health and Family Services, said disaster preparation is a dynamic part of public safety policy.

“Preparing for health crises is a never-ending process,” Marquis said. “We continue to learn and improve our techniques through testing, reviewing our plans and working with other agencies.”

The CDC report lauded Wisconsin for first identifying the E. Coli strain that killed three people and infected 183 more over 26 states in September 2006. This breakthrough, which won the Wisconsin lab that found the strain an award from the CDC, resulted in the immediate national recall of some kinds of spinach.

The report also gave Wisconsin high scores in categories like crisis response planning, collaboration with hospitals and other emergency agencies and numerous mock exercises at the state level. The report placed Wisconsin in the top tier of states for overall emergency health preparedness.

According to the report, Wisconsin has established 12 local public health departments that have maximized funding and promoted efficient resource allocation for public health officials.

Sheri Johnson, Wisconsin State Health officer, said maintaining this high level of readiness would demand adequate federal funds.

“Building on the accomplishments to date will require an ongoing federal investment to keep pace with the broadening scope of potential threats and advancements in technology,” she said.

Marquis said she was concerned about a recent 11 percent decrease in federal funding for public health readiness, saying it may make improvements in large-scale emergency health care harder.

“Wisconsin is seen as a health care leader,” Marquis said. “This cut in funding will make it more difficult to meet federal standards, but we will continue to try to meet them despite the decrease.”