Exercise tests medical responder readiness in event of large-scale infectious disease

A coalition of local and national agencies recently took part in a four-day, full-scale exercise in Omaha, Nebraska to evaluate and test the ability to provide international medical transport for multiple patients with a highly infectious disease.

The drill was developed by the National Strategic Research Institute and the University of Nebraska Medical Center as part of an ongoing program to ensure the national infectious disease response infrastructure is prepared to manage a large-scale infectious disease event.

The drill put to the test aerial transport capabilities, local infectious disease response activities, patient transport, hospital reception and patient care.

“While we were successful in carrying out this process separately with three Ebola patients in 2014, this scenario involves several new drill objectives,” Dr. Angela Hewlett, medical director of the Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, said. “We want to make sure we’re prepared for as many real-world scenarios as possible.”

The exercise participants included the U.S. Department of State, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Phoenix Air Group, the National Strategic Research Institute, Nebraska Biocontainment Unit, Douglas County 911, Douglas County Emergency Management, Nebraska Public Health Laboratory, Nebraska State Patrol, Omaha Police Department, Omaha Fire Department, Omaha Airport Authority, Douglas County Health Department, and the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.