New training course focuses on public health emergency preparation

ARGONNE, Ill. (Sept. 27, 2005) – In light of the growing threat of infectious disease epidemics, bioterrorism and natural disasters, the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory has produced a new training course on public health emergency preparedness.

The course, held in Singapore for public health and emergency officials from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, was sponsored by the United States in partnership with the Singapore Ministry of Health and the Regional Emerging Diseases Intervention (REDI) Centre.

This five-day course, held September 12-16 in Singapore, included expert presentations on topics such as infection control, threat identification and public information during health crises. In addition, during the workshop section of the course, international teams of participants developed responses to a hypothetical avian influenza outbreak.

"Congratulations to Argonne National Laboratory, the U.S. Government and the Singapore Ministry of Health for putting together this excellent course," said Cut Idawani, keynote speaker for the course. "The participants learned much important and useful information." Prior to the 2004 tsunami, Cut was director of Save the Children in Aceh Province, Indonesia, and was an important leader in the tsunami response.

"This course has provided vital training for the public health professionals who will be key leaders in their countries during public health emergencies," said Dr. Lee Meng Har, Singapore Ministry of Health assistant director in the policy branch of the communicable disease division and acting assistant executive director of the REDI Centre. "These professionals have made important contacts with their counterparts throughout the region that will be essential during a crisis."

"The faculty was tremendously pleased by the participation of such highly-trained health care and emergency preparedness professionals," said course director Edward Tanzman, emergency preparedness group leader at Argonne, which produced the course. "Because of the vast experience with public health emergencies in this region, the participants sometimes taught the faculty through their personal experiences with SARS, the tsunami and avian flu."

All events were held at the Singapore Ministry of Health.

Argonne National Laboratory brings the world's brightest scientists and engineers together to find exciting and creative new solutions to pressing national problems in science and technology. The nation's first national laboratory, Argonne conducts leading-edge basic and applied scientific research in virtually every scientific discipline. Argonne researchers work closely with researchers from hundreds of companies, universities, and federal, state and municipal agencies to help them solve their specific problems, advance America 's scientific leadership and prepare the nation for a better future. With employees from more than 60 nations, Argonne is managed by UChicago Argonne, LLC for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science.

For more information, please contact Steve McGregor (630/252-5580 or media@anl.gov) at Argonne.