Public health reports
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Public health reports · Jan 2011
Assessing Argentina's response to H1N1 in austral winter 2009: from presidential lethargy to local ingenuity.
Argentina experienced a heavy burden of novel H1N1 influenza in austral winter 2009. In early July 2009, Argentina reported more than 1,500 cases and was confronting the highest per capita H1N1 mortality rate in the world. By September 2009, more than 500 people had died of H1N1 in Argentina. ⋯ Starting in 2002, primarily in response to the prospect of avian influenza, the health ministry had formulated a preparedness plan and, beginning in 2005, had conducted at least five pandemic simulation exercises. In April 2009, Argentina's health ministry activated its pandemic response plan, triggering the establishment of an executive-level situation room equipped with rapid communications and computer surveillance to track events as they unfolded. In addition, several expert committees were assembled to assess the situation and solicit input from health practitioners, academics, hospital staff, and allied professionals.
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Public health reports · Nov 2010
Review of the UNC Team Epi-Aid graduate student epidemiology response program six years after implementation.
Service learning is one way that academia can contribute to assuring the public's health. The University of North Carolina's Team Epi-Aid service-learning program started in 2003. ⋯ Survey data from student participants and public health partners indicates that the program is successful in meeting its goal of creating effective partnerships among the university, the North Carolina Center for Public Health Preparedness, and state and local health departments; supplying needed surge capacity to health departments; and providing students with applied public health experience and training. In this article, we discuss the programmatic lessons learned around administration, maintaining student interest, program sustainability, and challenges since program implementation.