Bioterrorism Response and Public Health Patricia Bolivar CLS, MS - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Bioterrorism Response and Public Health Patricia Bolivar CLS, MS pbolivar@ph.lacounty.gov Los Angeles County Dept. of Public Health Public Health Laboratory BTRU Supervisor and PI

Objectives • Provide an overview of the Bioterrorism Response Unit (BTRU) and the associated multidisciplinary team • Describe role of the BTRU laboratory and duties as a public health microbiologist • Describe the functions of the BTRU • Describe the BTRU Scientist interaction with law enforcement agencies, and other public health professionals 2

What is Education? “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” ~Nelson Mandela 3

Educational Background • AS Electron Microscopy - ELAC • BS Clinical Laboratory Science Microbiology/Biochemistry - CSULA • CLS Board Certified ASCP/NCA - Internship at Centinela Hospital • MS Forensic Science : Criminalistics – CSULA • Public Health Microbiology Certification at LAC-PHL • PhD Candidate Public Health: Epidemiology – Walden U 4

Work Experience 2010-present BTRU PI and Alternate Responsible Official LAC-PHL 2006-present BTRU Public Health Microbiologist Supervisor LAC-PHL 2005-2006 Public Health Microbiologist I /CLS Micro Consultant LAC-PHL/ELADH/Santa Teresita Hospital 2003-2005 Special Health Officer/Scientist CDC-BioWatch 1989-2003 CLS Microbiology Supervisor ELADH 1986-1989 CLS Generalist Centinela Hospital 5

Bioterrorism is … 6

Biosafety and Biosecurirty • Provides guidance in: 1. Use of safe and secure workplace 2. Appropriate protective equipment • Engineering and administrative controls in: 1. Handling of pathogenic organisms 2. During transportation 3. Field investigations 4. Vaccine manufacturing facilities • Protect workers, the environment and the community from exposure, infection, and subsequent development of disease. 7

Public Health our mission: "To protect health, prevent disease, and promote well-being" …and be part of the First Responders team in a BT event 8

Laboratory professionals play a critical role in a BT incident • Clinical samples and sentinel laboratory isolates to rule in/ out select agents and toxins • Animal samples: cats, dogs, squirrels, rats… ex: surveillance of plague • Environmental : food, water, powders, air … 9

The Role of Public Health/ BTRU: Being prepared • Education of medical community • Education of public • Training of special response teams • Participation in exercises for different scenarios • Development of communication systems • Development of interagency protocols 10

Goals of Public Health and Law Enforcement • To protect the public • To prevent or stop the spread of disease • To identify those responsible for a threat or an attack • To protect their respective employees during their response and investigations 11

Coordinating agency: CDC Department of Health and Human Services • National Policy on a Biological incident Cooperating agencies: – Department of Agriculture – Department of Commerce – Department of Defense – Department of Energy – Department of Homeland Security – Department of Justice – Department of Transportation – U.S. Postal Service – Environmental Protection Agency – American Red Cross 12