CDC visits Homestead

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt Desiree W. Moye
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

The 482nd Medical Squadron Public Health department welcomed two members from The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Miami Quarantine station for an initial meet and greet, Sept. 26.

The preliminary conference was the beginning of future training opportunities with the 482nd Fighter Wing and the CDC. The current public health international concern is Zika, and both agencies are set to work collectively to ensure servicemembers and the surrounding populace can stay up to date on Zika information.

“This meeting today is just the first step into a longtime partnership with the base,” said Carmen Roman, a CDC Miami Quarantine station health educator. “We have strength in uniting all local public health entities.”

Strong bonds continue to develop through community outreach from the 482nd MDS public health office.

“We are here to gather information and share each other’s potential lifesaving resources,” said Roman.

The station’s jurisdiction includes the preclearance ports in Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, the Bahamas and Aruba. Activities involve conducting surveillance for communicable diseases of public health importance at ports of entry in partnership with federal, state, and local ports.

“Public health agencies are diligently striving to stay ahead of any future contagious outbreak in this region,” said Brittney Odom, with the CDC Miami Quarantine station.