Health Protection
Health Protection consists of four different programs: Bioterrorism (BT), Epidemiology, Medical Reserve Corps (MRC), and the Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS). Each area plays a key role in protecting the public’s health and providing for a community response to a public health disaster/incident.
Protection from health problems and hazards refers to the Health Department’s capacity to investigate infectious diseases and respond to public health threats from all hazards. These hazards include, but are not limited to:
- swimming pool safety (recreational water illnesses)
- emerging and drug-resistant infections
- food-borne outbreaks
- chronic diseases
- terrorist attacks/biological warfare
- communicable diseases such as shigella and the seasonal and pandemic flu
The spread of almost all communicable diseases can be reduced by adequate hand washing. Click here for a fact sheet on hand washing, or here for a flier that can be printed and posted in bathrooms or other public areas. Work with or have kids? Click here for a fun, kid-centered approach to promoting hand washing!
Besides investigating diseases, the Sedgwick County Health Department’s Public Health Incident Planning and Response (PHIPR) Team stays up to date by regularly planning and participating in the latest training, drills and exercises. These activities help them become as prepared as possible to respond to various kinds of disasters. The PHIPR team also responds to “real” disasters such as the Greensburg tornado and the Valley Center Barton Solvents explosion.
Recent Health Protection News and Recalls:
Tuberculosis
A new case of tuberculosis (TB) was confirmed recently at Wichita State University. Click here to read information about TB and what to do if you have symptoms.
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