Arizona
forms pandemic plan with Sonora, Mexico
by
Jennifer Krahe
Arizona
and the Mexican state of Sonora signed documents June 17
securing each other’s cooperation in formulating an influenza
pandemic plan slated for completion next June. The formal
signing took place at the Arizona‑Mexico Commission
summer plenary meeting in Scottsdale.
“Diseases
don’t respect borders,” said Susan Gerard, director of the
Arizona Department of Health Services. “We must work together
on our emergency response efforts.”
David
Engelthaler, state epidemiologist for Arizona, answered
questions posed by The Desert Advocate about the historic
agreement.
TDA:
Why create this historic agreement now?
DE:
It’s not because of an immediate pandemic concern. It’s
part of an ongoing effort between Arizona and Sonora, coming
together to say: ‘Here’s a regional plan.’
The
two governors, Janet Napolitano and Eduardo Bours Castelo,
as well as the two health directors, Susan Gerard and Raymundo
Lopez Vucovich, want to formalize their long‑standing
relationship.
TDA:
What is the agreement going to look like?
DE:
Arizona and Sonora each have a pandemic response plan. Rather
than build a whole other separate plan, the idea is to develop
a figurative handshake between the two plans, sharing resources,
etc.
It’s
an ability to share across the Internet highly sensitive
data to execute emergency response plans. We want to develop
systems to share information about infectious diseases.
TDA:
Is the agreement binding on other U.S./Mexican border states?
DE:
It’s a memorandum of agreement and only involves Arizona
and Sonora. It’s not binding upon the United States government
or the Mexican government.
TDA:
Do other states in the U.S. have agreements with Mexico?
DE:
This is probably the first of its kind. All along the border
there’s been a lot of activity as far as emergency preparedness
between sister communities. We’ve also done some on a state‑to‑state
level. Arizona has always led the way.
Reach
the reporter at jennifer@thedesertadvocate.com.
