 |
| Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) |
Goals
- Instill
and maintain public confidence in the nation's public health
system and its ability to respond to and manage the reappearance
of SARS-CoV.
- Contribute
to the maintenance of order, minimization of public panic and
fear, and facilitation of public protection through the provision
of accurate, rapid, and complete information before, during,
and after a SARS outbreak.
- Provide
accurate, consistent, and comprehensive information about SARS-CoV
disease.
- Address
rumors, inaccuracies, and misperceptions as quickly as possible,
and prevent stigmatization of affected groups.
Key
concepts
- 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 specific
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.
Priority
activities
- Identify
key messages about SARS-CoV disease for specific audiences
and the most effective methods to deliver these messages.
- Issue
local public health announcements and updated information on
the outbreak and response.
- Provide
a location for state, local, and federal communication and
emergency response personnel to meet and work side-by-side
in developing key messages and handling media inquiries.
- Respond
to frequently occurring media questions by preparing fact sheets,
talking points (key messages), and question-and-answer documents.
- Coordinate
requests for spokespersons and subject matter experts.
|
|
 |
|
|
|
