911: Admin. Preparedness Key In Emergencies, Mosquito Control Trends

SUMMER JOHNSON: 

This is the award-winning Public Health Review Morning Edition for Wednesday, May 21, 2025. I'm Summer Johnson. Now, today's news from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.

JULIA MCILROY: 

It is for state health officials, and NASPO is participating because we're helping them to understand the procurement process within a state and specifically related to emergencies and emergency preparedness.

JOHNSON: 

Julia McElroy is with the National Association of State Procurement Officials, or NASPO. She's participating in an upcoming ASTHO webinar that dives into administrative preparedness for public health emergencies. McIlroy says there are three administrative gaps she sees when it comes to preparation.

MCILROY: 

It's unclear procurement procedures, which slows response time. Another is a lack of surge staffing plans to bring in extra personnel quickly. And lastly, delays in reallocating funds or approving emergency contracts, which hinders response efforts.

JOHNSON: 

McElroy hopes states will at least plan for their most common emergencies.

MCILROY: 

Every region has 'most likely to occur' emergencies. Think Florida, Oklahoma, Idaho, when I say those states, some sort of emergency comes to mind. So, utilizing pre- negotiated and scalable supplier contracts that are tailored to your region, so when an emergency occurs, those suppliers can respond quickly.

JOHNSON: 

Lastly, McElroy says the work to prepare isn't in vain. Public health crises are unavoidable.

MCILROY: 

I know it's simple, but it's true. Being prepared because some sort of a natural disaster will occur, and that's not the time to develop a plan. You need to have a plan in place prior to that emergency occurring.

JOHNSON: 

ASTHO's administrative preparedness webinar is coming up on Wednesday, May 28 at 1 p.m. Eastern Time. Make sure you sign up by clicking the link in the show notes.

ASTHO has a new Health Policy Update on legislative trends for mosquito control. Here's ASTHO's Lillian Colasurdo.

LILLIAN COLASURDO: 

Historically, efforts to control mosquitoes have been fairly localized, but the challenge with mosquitoes is that they don't tend to stay in one locality or obey any borders, and so sometimes a broader and more integrated approach is needed.

JOHNSON: 

Colasurdo has seen that broader approach coming to fruition.

COLASURDO: 

One of the things that we've started to see over the last several years is an interest in shifting to more state and territorial oversight of mosquito control efforts, not necessarily abandoning the local approach, but looking to have a little bit more of a coordinated oversight of what the localities are doing.

JOHNSON: 

States are also balancing control efforts with environmental concerns.

COLASURDO: 

Public health is often charged with making sure mosquito control efforts are safe. So, states that are beginning to look to increase their oversight of mosquito control activities, we're starting to see legislation introduced to do things like require the submission of an Integrated Vector Management Plan. And Integrated Management Plans tend to take a little bit more of a holistic approach to any type of pest or vector management.

JOHNSON: 

That report is on the ASTHO website now. Access it easily by using the link in the show notes.

Also, an upcoming ASTHO webinar focuses on maternal mortality. O'Keyla Cooper has more.

O'KEYLA COOPER: 

Join ASTHO on Thursday, May 29 at 3 p.m. Eastern Time for an insightful webinar on how defined levels of maternal care can reduce maternal mortality and improve outcomes. Hear from health leaders and perinatal experts as they share strategies and real world examples, followed by a live Q&A. Register now using the link in the show notes.

JOHNSON: 

Finally, ASTHO President-Elect and the Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Dr. Manisha Juthani, recently delivered the commencement address at Sacred Heart University's College of Health Professions and the Dr. Susan L. Davis and Richard J. Henley College of Nursing. There's a link in the show notes if you'd like to read more on that.

That'll do it for today. We're back tomorrow morning with more ASTHO news and information. I'm Summer Johnson, you're listening to the award-winning Public Health Review, Morning Edition. Have a great day.