February 12, 2020      2:03 PM
State task force activated by potential threat of coronavirus outbreak
“It’s especially important to understand there truly is no vaccine. There is no specific anti-viral treatment, as there is for influenza,” Commissioner Hellerstedt said. “Right now, all we have is supportive type care for people who become ill…”
The threat of novel coronavirus has activated a state task
force, led by the Department of State
Health Services, intended to prepare for highly infectious diseases.
The last full meeting of the Task Force on Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response –
a panel created by
then-Gov. Rick Perry – was October
2018. The reason at that time was Ebola, and a smaller sub-group worked with
the Texas Hospital Association
to create an awareness program intended to educate hospitals on infection
control measures and response plans.
By Kimberly Reeves
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