Report: Vt. Well-Prepared for Disease Outbreaks

A new report says the state of Vermont is among the best prepared states in the country to manage disease outbreaks.

The Vermont Health Department says the report by the Trust for America's Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that Vermont was one of only five states to score eight out of 10 on the report.

Half the states and Washington, D.C. scored five or lower out of 10 key indicators related to preventing, detecting, diagnosing and responding to outbreaks.

State epidemiologist Patsy Kelso says the state is well-prepared for emerging threats.

The report reviewed the core abilities of public health systems to prepare for - and prevent and control the spread of - infectious diseases. It considered containment strategies, investigative capabilities, and drilling and training for hospitals.