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Iowa Code (Last Updated: December 05, 2016) |
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Title IV. PUBLIC HEALTH |
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Chapter 135. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH |
Section 135.140. Definitions.
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As used in this division, unless the context otherwise requires:
1. “Bioterrorism” means the intentional use of any microorganism, virus, infectious substance, or biological product that may be engineered as a result of biotechnology, or any naturally occurring or bioengineered component of any such microorganism, virus, infectious substance, or biological product, to cause death, disease, or other biological malfunction in a human, an animal, a plant, or another living organism.
2. “Department” means the Iowa department of public health.
3. “Director” means the director of public health or the director’s designee.
4. “Disaster” means disaster as defined in section 29C.2.
5. “Division” means the division of acute disease prevention and emergency response of the department.
6. “Public health disaster” means a state of disaster emergency proclaimed by the governor in consultation with the department pursuant to section 29C.6 for a disaster which specifically involves an imminent threat of an illness or health condition that meets any of the following conditions of paragraphs “a” and “b”:
a. Is reasonably believed to be caused by any of the following:
(1) Bioterrorism or other act of terrorism.
(2) The appearance of a novel or previously controlled or eradicated infectious agent or biological toxin.
(3) A chemical attack or accidental release.
(4) An intentional or accidental release of radioactive material.
(5) A nuclear or radiological attack or accident.
(6) A natural occurrence or incident, including but not limited to fire, flood, storm, drought, earthquake, tornado, or windstorm.
(7) A man-made occurrence or incident, including but not limited to an attack, spill, or explosion.
b. Poses a high probability of any of the following:
(1) A large number of deaths in the affected population.
(2) A large number of serious or long-term disabilities in the affected population.
(3) Widespread exposure to an infectious or toxic agent that poses a significant risk of substantial future harm to a large number of the affected population.
(4) Short-term or long-term physical or behavioral health consequences to a large number of the affected population.
7. “Public health response team” means a team of professionals, including licensed health care providers, nonmedical professionals skilled and trained in disaster or emergency response, and public health practitioners, which is sponsored by a hospital or other entity and approved by the department to provide disaster assistance in the event of a disaster or threatened disaster.
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