As a consequence, pandemic and epidemic preparedness planning has improved in most countries of East and Southeast Asia, but gaps between the plans and the ability to operationalize them remain in many countries (37, 38 ).
Ideally, the student assistantships should be evaluated to identify whether preparedness for practice has improved.
"Clearly, America's preparedness to respond to small-scale bio-events has improved in many of the categories assessed for this report," the new assessment states.
Using ED-SSS for surveillance of influenza-like illnesses and enteroviruses-related infections has improved Taiwan's pandemic flu preparedness and disease control capabilities.
After the SARS crisis, the preparedness of hospitals in China especially for infectious diseases has improved significantly [ 14].
Disaster preparedness from schools which immediately go into lock down, or hospitals all hands on deck codes, to evacuation routes and shelters of last resort, the art and science of mass fatality management has improved immensely.
Emergency Preparedness and Response: UNICEF country offices in the region undertaking contingency planning will have improved emergency preparedness and response mechanisms through the development of a regional surge capacity for rapid deployment of experienced emergency staff and a Regional Emergency Rapid Response Fund for the initial emergency response phase and planning.
The results of these institutional efforts have improved hazard awareness and disaster preparedness, as demonstrated below in the response to Tropical Depression 12E in 2011.
"We are confident that the procedures we have in place have improved safety and security for [select agent] labs," says Richard Besser, director of the Coordinating Office for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response at the CDC.
When asked about overall preparedness of incoming college students taking their classes, 30 of 54 (55.6%) thought preparedness had remained the same since they began teaching, and 21 (38.9%) thought it had declined; only three (5.6%) thought it had improved.
