Dallas County Health Department has developed this response plan for the Dallas County Health Department to deal directly with the threat of a pandemic influenza outbreak in the human population. 

This response plan is a sub part of the Dallas County Local Public Health Emergency Plan and focuses on the roles public health serves in the event of a pandemic.  This response plan will contain references to annexes and appendices of the Dallas County Health Department Local Public Health Emergency Plan (LPHEP).

The scope of the activities in this response plan may include but not limited to

• Surveillance/Outbreak Investigation
• Education
• Prevention measures
• Communication
• Vaccination/Mass Prophylaxis
• Isolation/Quarantine
• Closure of private and./or public facilities as deemed necessary

The coordinated activities that would involve other community and faith based organizations may be mentioned in this plan.  These organizations are expected to develop procedures and protocols for their own response plan in the event of a pandemic. 

NIMS ICS 

Communication during any and all response levels of a pandemic event will be critical.  The Incident Command Structure will be implemented for all pandemic response activities and will be used in a manner consistent with the National Incident Management System. 

Dallas County is a rural community and there are communities that do not use modern conveniences or electrical items.  There could be need for alternate means of direct communication with these communities. These could include a door to door canvas for those isolated communities.