What is the Health Alert Network?

The Health Alert Network (HAN) is a strong national program, providing vital health information and the infrastructure to support the dissemination of that information at the State and Local levels and beyond. 86 percent of the State-based HAN programs have over 90% of their population covered under the umbrella of HAN. The HAN Messaging System currently directly and indirectly transmits Health Alerts, Advisories and Updates to over one million recipients.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires 24/7 coverage for the Health Alert Network as part of the bioterrorism grant program.

What is the Delaware Health Alert Network?

The Delaware Health Alert Network (DHAN) is part of a nationwide network of strong public health agencies which effectively serve as the nation’s frontline defense against terrorism and other public health threats. The program intends to ensure that each community has rapid and timely access to emergent health information; a cadre of highly-trained professional personnel; and evidence-based practices and procedures for effective public health preparedness, response and service on a 24/7 basis.

The DHAN is an electronic notification system to health care providers through emailing and faxing. The system is activated when a CDC HAN email message is received. The message is sent out to the distribution lists selected by DPH subject-matter experts.

The message receivers are private and public healthcare personnel, school nurses and emergency personnel like EMS, firefighters, paramedics, law enforcement, and state health personnel.

Healthcare professionals who are not currently receiving health alert messages and would like to sign up to receive them should self-register in the Health Alert Delaware system.

What are the Categories of Health Alert messages?

• Health Alert: conveys the highest level of importance; warrants immediate action or attention.
• Health Advisory:provides important information for a specific incident or situation; may not require immediate action.
• Health Update:provides updated information regarding an incident or situation; unlikely to require immediate action.
• Health Information: Provides general health information which is not considered to be of an emergent nature.

Follow this link to the Delaware Health Alerts page.

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