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Berkshire public-health official urges special commission on H5N1 after gaps in regional preparedness
Summary
A Tri-Town Board of Health medical director told the Joint Committee that recent reviews show local emergency-preparedness gaps and urged creation of a special commission on avian influenza (H.2385) to coordinate state and local response.
Dr. Charles Kenny, chair of the Tri-Town Board of Health (Lee, Lenox and Stockbridge in Berkshire County), urged the Joint Committee on Public Health to support H.2385 to authorize a special commission to improve preparedness and response for highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1).
Kenny said regional emergency-preparedness reviews found that “community needs were not met for any of the headline responsibilities under emergency preparedness and response,” and that although the Commonwealth provided funds to Berkshire County, oversight and organized local response plans for events such as H5N1 outbreaks are lacking. He told the committee H5N1 has been detected in wild birds, poultry and dairy cattle and that local agencies must be prepared for zoonotic events associated with farm‑tourism and public interactions with animals.
Why it matters: Kenny said local health departments are bearing costs and organizing ad-hoc responses without clear guidance or coordination from state agencies, and he asked the committee to create a formal commission to standardize planning, communication and resource allocation across agriculture, public health and emergency management.
Next steps: Kenny urged the committee to report H.2385 favorably and suggested the Legislature follow up on how prior funds to Berkshire County were spent and whether additional oversight is needed.
