3.5 Risk Communication
3.5.1) Risk communication systems
1 Questions under this indicator:
Question 1:
3.5.1a) Does the country have in place, either in the national public health emergency response plan or in other legislation, regulation or strategy documents, a section detailing a risk communication plan that is specifically intended for use during a public health emergency?
Score and/or Justification:
The US government provides guidance on risk communication as part of its general disaster management system and in information relating specifically to public health emergencies. The Incident Communications Emergency Policy and Procedures (ICEPP), part of the National Response Framework for disasters and emergencies of all kinds, provide guidance for risk communicators during a coordinated federal response.[1] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) under the Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for leading public health emergency preparedness and response. CDC’s Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) programme “provides trainings, tools, and resources to help health communicators, emergency responders, and leaders of organizations communicate effectively during emergencies.” Details of the programme and a CERC manual are available from the CDC’s website.[1,2,3]
3.5.2) Public communication
2 Questions under this indicator:
Question 1:
3.5.2a) Is there evidence that the government utilises media platforms (eg social media, website updates) to inform the public about public health emergencies?
Score and/or Justification:
In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under the Department for Health and Human Services, utilises website updates and social media platforms to inform the public about public health emergencies. The CDC updates pages on its own website with alerts on local and global disease outbreaks and related travel advice.[1,2] The CDC’s Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response (OPHPR) has Twitter and Facebook accounts which provide public alerts about disease outbreaks and public health emergencies.[3,4]