36-782. Enhanced surveillance advisory

A. The governor, in consultation with the director, may issue an enhanced surveillance advisory if the governor has reasonable cause to believe that an illness, health condition or clinical syndrome caused by bioterrorism, epidemic or pandemic disease or a highly fatal and highly infectious agent or biological toxin has or may occur or that there is a public event that could reasonably be the object of a bioterrorism event. The illness or health condition may not include acquired immune deficiency syndrome or any other infection caused by the human immunodeficiency virus.

B. As determined by the governor after considering the least restrictive measures necessary that are consistent with public health and safety, the enhanced surveillance advisory shall direct the following in accordance with this article:

1. Those persons and entities required to report.

2. The clinical syndromes, any illness or health condition that may be associated with bioterrorism or a specific illness or health condition to be reported.

3. Patient tracking.

4. Information sharing.

5. Specimen testing coordination.

C. The director shall notify local health authorities before the governor issues an enhanced surveillance advisory. The department and local health authorities shall provide the enhanced surveillance advisory to those persons and entities required by the advisory to report pursuant to this article by using any available means of communication. This article does not alter the department's or a local health authority's ability to monitor community health status or implement control measures for the early detection of communicable and preventable diseases otherwise allowed by law.

D. Before the governor issues an enhanced surveillance advisory, the department and local health authorities must meet with representatives of persons or institutions who will be affected by the enhanced surveillance advisory pursuant to section 36-783, subsections A, B and C. If, because of an immediate threat to the public health, the department and local health authorities are not able to hold this meeting before the governor issues the advisory, the meeting must take place within seventy-two hours after the governor issues the advisory.

E. To the extent possible, the department and local health authorities shall share department and local health authority personnel, equipment, materials, supplies and other resources to assist persons and institutions affected to implement the terms of the advisory.

F. At the governor's direction, the department may use reasonable efforts to assist the persons and institutions to receive reimbursement of costs incurred because of the implementation of the advisory.

G. An enhanced surveillance advisory may be revised or terminated at any time by the director and automatically terminates after sixty days, unless renewed by the governor.