Utilization of an incident command system for a public health threat: West Nile virus in Nassau County, New York, 2008.
The summer of 2008 in Nassau County, New York, was marked by a historic season of human West Nile virus illness and West Nile virus activity in mosquitoes. The commissioner of Health of the State of New York declared a public health threat, and a decision was made to use adulticide for mosquito control. In contrast to prior years, the Nassau County Department of Health utilized the Incident Command System (ICS) to coordinate a multidisciplinary and multidepartment response to this public health threat. Implementing the ICS ensured coordination and communication between multiple county departments and organizations in the community. The effective response demonstrated that a local health department can mobilize to meet the needs of a public health threat through the use of the ICS. Nassau County Department of Health learned that the ICS is ideal for complex, multidisciplinary operations because of its clear chain of command, transparent organization structure, and flexibility.
Department of Preventive Medicine, SUNY, Stony Brook, New York, USA. Eleanor.adams@hhsnassaucountyny.us
Eleanor H
EH
Adams
Eileen
E
Scanlon
James J
JJ
Callahan
Maria Torroella
MT
Carney
D000818:Animals; D009033:Culicidae / Q000821:virology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D009032:Mosquito Control; D009518:New York / Q000453:epidemiology; D011635:Public Health Administration; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014902:West Nile virus