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Vermont Ranks High For Infectious Disease Response

The state's response to emerging infectious diseases could be tested if Vermont faces a major flu outbreak this winter. A new report says the state should be well prepared.

The report was released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Based on a variety of indicators, Vermont shared the top score with four other states.

"We are in good shape in case there is an emerging infectious disease threat and we would be able to respond quickly and appropriately," State Epidemiologist Patsy Kelso

Patsy Kelso is the state's epidemiologist for infectious disease. She says the report is a recognition that Vermont has a comprehensive system in place to identify the outbreak of an infectious disease, and that the state is prepared to take steps to contain any outbreak.

“I think we have a really strong system in Vermont with regard to epidemiology and our lab capacity and our local health and public health preparedness,” said Kelso. “So that we are in good shape in case there's an emerging infectious disease threat and we would be able to respond quickly and appropriately."

Kelso says her office is keeping a close watch on the possible outbreak of a nasty flu virus this winter.

“You know, there's always the threat for a pandemic influenza and ...  we had some experience with that with the pandemic H1N1 flu year in 2009-10,” said Kelso. “There could always be a new flu virus so we're always on the lookout for that." 

Kelso says her office is also monitoring several Vermonters for the Ebola virus. These are individuals who visited one of the countries in western Africa where there's been an outbreak of Ebola.

This group of people isn't being quarantined at this time because they haven't displayed any of the symptoms of Ebola, but Kelso says they are being closely tracked.

"We keep a daily check on them for a temperature and any symptoms that could be consistent with Ebola,” said Kelso. “And if they develop a temperature or any Ebola-like symptoms we would consult with health care providers and go on from there to do any assessment that might be necessary."

Kelso says her office will also be on the lookout this winter for any of the so called infectious disease "super bugs" that have become antibiotic resistant.

Bob Kinzel has been covering the Vermont Statehouse since 1981 — longer than any continuously serving member of the Legislature. With his wealth of institutional knowledge, he answers your questions on our series, "Ask Bob."
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