Peterson exercise tests disease control

Published Aug. 21, 2007
By Corey Dahl
21st Space Wing Public Affairs

PETERSON AFB, Colo. -- Base organizations worked with city and county officials Aug. 9 to contain a simulated outbreak of smallpox unleashed by an Airman gone mad.

Part of Peterson's quarterly exercise program, Airmen and civilian employees responded to the incident alongside agencies ranging from Civil Air Patrol to the Colorado Springs Office of Emergency Management.

The situation was meant to test the base's ability to contain a disease outbreak, staging a scenario that had an Airman - infected with smallpox, takes a group of hostages, potentially infecting them.

"With this one, we were attempting to develop our strategies for disease containment," said Vic Duckarmenn, who organizes base exercises. "We were also testing the use of the Strategic National Stockpile," a Centers for Disease Control program that quickly transports necessary vaccines and materials to sites in the event of an outbreak.

Mr. Duckarmenn said being prepared to respond to an outbreak is crucial for Peterson, where roughly 18,000 people could become infected if the disease were to spread.

"We've staged chemical, nuclear, high explosive events before, but this is just as important," he said. "Thousands of people live and work here everyday."

Lt. Col. Fred Gaudlip, 21st Space Wing inspector general, said the base performed well during the exercise, but Airmen and employees still have some work to do.

"You could definitely see we had some summer turnover, with new people who didn't know what to do," he said. "We always have to be vigilant and make sure our new folks are prepared."

Improvement is ultimately the whole point of the exercise, Colonel Gaudlip said.

"The primary reason we do this is to make sure - in a world where we see everything from bridge collapses to terrorist attacks - that we're always ready and prepared with the right mindset and skills to respond to it," he said. "This helps us evaluate and grow, understand if there are any weaknesses and gives us a good roadmap for the future."

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