Department of Health and Human Services

Bioterrorism and Disease Surveillance

Be Prepared

Maintaining our state's ability to prevent, protect, respond to, mitigate, and recover from threats to the public's health is a critical service. Since the Public Health Preparedness and Response Branch (PHP&R) was created in 2002, it has coordinated North Carolina's public health response to public health crises and supported Local Health Departments in incidents such as West Nile virus, the H1N1 influenza pandemic, SARS, bacterial contamination of food by E. coli, C. botulinum and salmonella, numerous hurricanes and even the potential threat from radiation released by the tsunami-damaged nuclear complex in Japan.

In order to mount an effective response to these and other public health emergencies, many diverse and complex planning, coordination and infrastructure functions come in to play. These public health preparedness and disease surveillance efforts are now essential to maintaining the capacity to control and respond to epidemic diseases and other health threats in our state's communities.

In essence, PHP&R is a branch of the state government that strives to enhance the capability and readiness of public health and health care systems, communities, and individuals to identify, prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies whose scale, scope, timing or unpredictability threatens to overwhelm routine capabilities. PHP&R collaborates with other state agencies, local health departments, hospitals, clinics and local university medical departments to ensure the well-being of North Carolina residents and visitors.

To accomplish these goals, PHP&R has divided the state into four Public Health Regional Preparedness Offices. Each office provides support for citizens and public health officials in their designated geographical regions. The 100 North Carolina counties are divided into Central, Western, Eastern and City Readiness Initiative (CRI)* regional offices. Each region consist of planning consultants, training and exercise facilitators, industrial hygienists, pharmacist, and program support specialists, all employed by the state, to provide and coordinate that support.

Additional Information

• Anthrax Information
• Chemical and Radiological Events: Information Resource Guide (PDF)
• Chemical/Radiological Preparedness
• Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency Response (CASPER)
• Disaster Surveillance
• Family Disaster Plan, Department of Health and Human Services (PDF)
• Field Data Collection Deployment Plan (PDF)
• Hospital-Based Public Health Epidemiologist (PHE) Program
• ICCE Net (Intrastate Crisis Communication Enhancement Network) (PDF)
• NC DETECT
• North Carolina Biological Agents Registry
• North Carolina's Response to Biological Threats: The First Year
• PHP&R Subject Matter and Staff Contacts
• PHRST Line Report - Forum
• Rapid Community Health and Needs Assessments After Hurricanes Isabel and Charley -- North Carolina, 2003-2004
• Regional Teams
• Smallpox Information
• Training and Educational Activities
• Training Calendar
• Guidelines for Responding to Incidents Involving Suspected Biological Terror Agents: The "Public Health Response Protocol"   PDF Version

Related Links

• Immunize North Carolina
• North Carolina Health Alert Network (NCHAN)
• North Carolina Homeland Security Web Site
• Potassium Iodide Program
• Disaster Preparedness, North Carolina Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services
• NC DHHS Hurricane Health and Safety
• Public Health Emergency Preparedness & Response, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• State Animal Response Team
• US Department of Homeland Security