Media Advisory

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Monday, June 6, 2011

What:

Bay Area residents are being asked to test an emergency website that would help the public receive life-saving medications in the event of an infectious disease emergency, such as an Anthrax attack. As part of the Bay Area’s Bay Case 2011 Anthrax Screening Exercise, the public is urged to go online June 8 and fill out a screening questionnaire for themselves and up to 19 others (family members, friends, coworkers, neighbors, etc.) who they would potentially pick up medication for from an emergency dispensing site. Participants are asked to print out their questionnaire and take a short survey. The process should take about 10 minutes.

When:

Wednesday, June 8, 2011 at the following times if possible: 10 a.m., 2 p.m. or 4 p.m. Otherwise, participants can sign on at any time on June 8.

Where:

www.BayAreaDisasterMeds.org
Click the "Get Medicine" tab (available in English, Spanish or Chinese)

Why:

Local county health departments are tasked with providing available emergency medication to the public in the event of an infectious disease emergency, such as an Anthrax attack. Though such an event in the Bay Area would be rare, it is important for health departments and the public to be prepared. The Health Departments came together to create the screening questions that should be asked of everyone to prevent the most serious side effects or reactions from potentially taking the wrong antibiotics. The BayAreaDistaterMeds.org website was developed to allow the public to fill out a screening questionnaire prior to picking up medication to help speed up the process of dispensing. The website also includes information on how medication dispensing sites work, training for anyone who might be interested in working at dispensing sites, and how businesses potentially can help local health departments by dispensing antibiotics to their own employees.

Who:

The Bay Case 2011 Anthrax Screening Exercise is a Bay Area-wide effort involving health departments in the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Mateo, San Francisco, Santa Clara, San Benito, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma and the City of Berkeley.

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