# 7104
An online rumor that has been circulating most of the day has been that the CDC was going to activate an emergency operations center (EOC) in response to the H7N9 virus outbreak in China.
This evening, CIDRAP reports that the CDC has announced a level 2 (a mid-level response) limited activation of their emergency response EOC.
Although a visible escalation in their H7N9 response, and bound to spark a certain amount of public conjecture, this seems a measured and prudent step.
While the CDC is obviously concerned, this shouldn’t necessarily be construed as signaling a major change in their current threat assessment of the virus (see CDC statement on H7N9).
The following report is from Robert Roos.
CDC activates emergency center over H7N9
Robert Roos
News Editor
Apr 9, 2013 (CIDRAP News) – The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Atlanta yesterday to support the response to the H7N9 influenza outbreak in China, CDC officials said in an e-mailed statement today.
The EOC was activated at level 2, the second of three levels. Level 1, the highest, signals an agency-wide response. "This is a limited activation that allows for the use of additional resources and staff to meet the technical needs of a public health response," the agency said.
For more on the history of CDC EOC responses, visit:
