1. Public Health Preparedness: Denton County Health Department’s Approach
Health Emergency Alert Response Team
Matt Richardson, MPH

2. Health Emergency Alert Response Team
Who are we?
Jessica Gullion, PhD Epidemiologist
Matt Richardson, MPH Coordinator
Jay Thatcher, BA Assistant Coordinator
Cubby Gardner, RN Outbreak Manager
Melicia Brown, MPH Health Educator
Sandra McKinney Administrative Manager
Randy Kesseler, DO Physician

3. HEART: What do we do? Planning and Preparedness
Current projects include:
Smallpox Vaccination Program (Pre and Post-event)
Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) coordination and planning
Epidemiology/Investigation of Communicable/Infectious disease
Bioweapon-release Response Planning
Countywide WMD exercise planning

4. CDRT Communicable Disease Response Team School nurses
Hospital Infection Control
Local Physicians
Fire
Police
EMS
Emergency Management
University Health Centers

5. Epidemiology and Surveillance
Epidemiologist
Improved Disease Reporting and Follow-up
Expanded Surveillance
RedBat Surveillance software—will be countywide in 2-3 months
HEART serves as epidemiological investigation team

6. Example: Monkeypox
Animals shipped to Denton County from infected supply (Phil’s Pocket Pets, Chicago)
HEART investigated contacts in collaboration with municipal animal control and police departments
Testing performed on raccoon for Monkeypox—no confirmed cases in humans or pets in Denton County

7. Example: SARS Possible SARS contact exposure to resident
Utilized Mobile Clinic for investigation of exposures and sample collection
Continuous on-site monitoring by clinical staff
Collaboration with CDC/Texas Department of Health/Dallas County Health and Human Services

8. Emergency Communication Network
Interoperability with “Countywide” communication (800 MHz encrypted radio system)
Pager/Mobile communication for HEART
24/7 HOTLINE for emergency programming
Call Center planning with Denton County IT
Broadcast Fax to Physicians/Veterinarians

9. GIS and Health Informatics
Partner with Denton County GIS to create unique graphical tools
Epidemiological overlays
Population-based Clinic/Dispensing site locations
WNV and Rabies Mapping

10. How to contact us: Matt Richardson, MPH
(940)