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After the
SARS response of 2003, federal, state, and local public health colleagues
conducted internal debriefings to prepare for a future SARS occurrence.
At CDC, communications officers, in consultation with state and local
partners, identified the following as "lessons learned" for
the next SARS response:
- Timely
dissemination of accurate and science-based information on what is
known and not known about SARS-CoV disease and the progress of the
response effort builds public trust and confidence.
- Coordination
of messages and release of information among federal, state, and local
health officials and affected institutions are critical to avoiding
contradictions and confusion that can undermine public trust and impede
containment measures.
- Information
should be technically correct and sufficiently complete to support
policies and actions without being patronizing.
- Guidance
to community members on actions needed to protect themselves and their
family members and colleagues is essential for crisis management.
- Information
presented during an outbreak should be limited to specific data and
results; messages should omit speculation, over-interpretation of data,
overly confident assessments of investigations and control measures,
and comments related to other jurisdictions.
- Rumors,
misinformation, misperceptions, and stigmatization of affected groups
must be addressed promptly and definitively.
- Education
and training of healthcare workers and public health staff on appropriate
strategies to recognize SARS-CoV disease and implement control measures
is key to containing a SARS outbreak.
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