DAt the 2023 MACo Winter Conference, public health experts tackled preparing for the next environmental threat to Maryland’s health.
As communities learned from COVID-19, what happens globally can quickly become a local threat. Milder winters, warmer summers, and fewer frost days are making it easier for infectious diseases such as Lyme, West Nile, rabies, dengue, and salmonellosis to expand into new habitats and infect more people. Animals have been pushed from native areas due to development and climate changes, causing increased contact with humans. Higher temperatures in the air and water enable fungi and other disease-causing threats to grow, spread, and thrive, while developing even more resistance to existing medicines. Mitigating the impact these changes can have on the health and wellness of residents will depend on education and prevention strategies that are implemented within the public health infrastructure, from the top down.
This 2023 MACo Winter Conference panel, “Environmental Rift: When Global Health Threats Become Local Concerns,” forecasted what some of the gravest threats are and how counties can be prepared. Health Officers shared the latest information and provided prevention strategies for what lay ahead.
Speakers:
- Gregory Branch, Health Officer, Baltimore County
- Meena Brewster, Health Officer, St. Mary’s County
Moderator: The Honorable Health Bagnall, Delegate, Maryland House of Delegates
During the panel, local health officers explored lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and offered sage advice for counties in preparing for the next global public health crisis that hits home. Baltimore County’s Dr. Branch said, on preparing to respond to public health challenges, “we cannot build the plane while we’re flying it.” Some things counties should do to properly prepare:
- enhance readiness
- hold practice drills and exercises
- have emergency plans in-place
- hold appropriate trainings for all personnel a hypothetical public health emergency might involve
Additionally, counties should identify exactly who in county government is responsible for preparation and response and what each person’s role is.
Panelists also stressed the importance of specializing and tailoring communications and outreach for each diverse community in a county — especially those who primarily speak a language other than English. Other groups to consider include faith communities and local healthcare workers/institutions.
More about MACo’s Winter Conference:
