Gov. Taps international experts in epidemiology infectious disease.
Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas Over the past several days we have learned a lot about
the unique challenges of situations like this and its important that we continue to adapt
our response to these realities" said Gov. Rick Perry today announcing the creation of the
Texas Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness & Response and naming Dr. Brett P. Giroir as director to assess and enhance the Texass existing capabilities to prepare or respond to pandemic disease such as
the Ebola virus.
This task force will develop a comprehensive long-term plan to ensure Texas deals effectively with any potential outbreak building on our existing State Emergency Plan and will cover all phases of preparedness and response" Perry said.
The governor also called on the federal government to immediately begin enhanced screening procedures at all points of entry including obtaining additional information checking temperatures and staffing quarantine stations to help prevent the disease from entering the country.
The task force will provide expert evidence-based assessments protocols and recommendations related to the current Ebola response and develop a strategic emergency management plan for incident command teams and their partners at the state and local levels of government.
This plan will build upon the existing State of Texas Emergency Management Plan which addresses multiple aspects of preparing for responding to and recovering from public health and medical crises in the state.
We live in an interconnected world where an outbreak anywhere is a risk everywhere. As a result control of future potential disease outbreaks will present even greater challenges" Giroir said.
Preparedness requires clear decisive and prospective management aimed not only at rapid response but also long-term solutions. The timelines for containment of a serious outbreak mandate that we are fully prepared for the worst-case scenario no matter what form that may take."
In addition to developing a comprehensive plan to ensure Texas is prepared for the potential of widespread outbreak of infectious diseases the task force will serve as a resource for Texas
leadership and citizens as well as leaders of other states.
The task force will be composed of Texas Health and Human Services Executive Commissioner Dr. Kyle Janek (left) and Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner Dr. David Lakey as well as public health experts epidemiologists and leadership from state agencies that would be involved in the response to a pandemic event. Members of the task force are as follows:
- Dr. Gerald Parker: vice president Public Health Preparedness and Response Texas A&M Health Science Center. Dr. Parker will serve as deputy director of the task force.
- Dr. Tammy Beckham: director Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostics Laboratory and the Institute for Infectious Animal Diseases Texas A&M University
- Dr. Peter Hotez: founding dean National School of Tropical Medicine Baylor College of Medicine; professor Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology & Microbiology; President Sabin Vaccine Institute
- Dr. Thomas Ksiazek: virologist and an expert in the field of Epidemiology/ecology and laboratory diagnosis of hemorrhagic fevers and arthropod-borne viral diseases University of Texas Medical Branch Sealy Center for Vaccine Development
- Dr. James LeDuc Ph.D.: director Galveston National Laboratory; professor of Microbiology and Immunology and director of the Program on Global Health Institute for Human Infections and Immunity
- Dr. Scott Lillibridge: professor of epidemiology and assistant dean Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Public Health
- Dr. Victoria Sutton: Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development; Director Center for Biodefense Law and Public Policy Texas Tech University School of Law
- Richard Hyde: executive director Texas Commission on Environmental Quality
- Tim Irvine: executive director Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs
- Nim Kidd: chief Texas Division of Emergency Management
- Col. Steve McCraw: executive director Texas Department of Public Safety
- Maj. Gen. John Nichols: Adjutant General of the State of Texas
- Lt. Gen. Joseph Weber: executive director Texas Department of Transportation
- Michael Williams: commissioner Texas Education Agency
The task force will issue written reports on its findings and recommendations including legislative recommendations to the governor and Legislature. The first report is due by Dec. 1 2014 and the second by Feb. 1 2015 with the potential for additional reports as the task force deems necessary.
To view the governors executive order creating the task force please visit http://governor.state.tx.us/news/executive-order/20193
