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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