THE DELMARVA AVIAN INFLUENZA JOINT TASK FORCE: A LOCAL OPERATIONAL RESPONSE TO AN INTERNATIONAL PROBLEM

Goeller et al examine the Delmarva Avian Influenza Joint Task Force (Task Force), which convened in Dec 2004. The Task Force represents a new partnership among public health, agriculture, and the poultry industry, and encompasses agency representation from Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. This new partnership and the plan are unique, as measured by the response Worcester County Health Department (WorCHD) has witnessed from other state and federal agencies that have contacted it for the guidelines. WorCHD believes this work is the first time in this country that operational guidance has been developed to outline the roles of public health, agriculture, and the poultry industry in the context of avian influenza (AI). Moreover, WorCHD is confident that the collaboration will continue as the Task Force identifies future concerns related to AI or other issues concerning the agricultural community, particularly poultry production.