DATE:
October 22, 2024
08
TO:
Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT
Title
AUTHORIZE ACCEPTANCE OF COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING / CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING: FACILITIES AND/OR EQUIPMENT GRANT FUNDING (DISTRICTS: ALL)
Body
OVERVIEW
The County of San Diego (County) Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA), Public Health Services, Public Health Laboratory (PHL) plays a critical role in protecting the health of San Diego County residents and visitors. Public health laboratories were established in response to outbreaks of diseases like typhoid, smallpox, and diphtheria, which are now considered diseases of the past. The California network is comprised of various laboratories, which play an important role in disease diagnosis and epidemiological surveillance of routine public health reportable diseases. Each individual laboratory further serves as a source of surge capacity for other local laboratories and the State laboratory in emergency situations and outbreaks.
Previously, the County public health laboratory was housed at the Health Services Complex building, and in February 2022, an inspection of the building determined that significant structural work was required, and it was decided that the building was no longer suitable for use. Due to this, an immediate plan for a new laboratory was initiated, and on October 25, 2022 (11), the San Diego County Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the design and pre-construction services for a new public health laboratory. The new public health laboratory is designed to be approximately 52,000 square feet to accommodate and meet operational needs. The space allocation at the new facility will almost double the previous laboratory workspace to allow expansion of testing capabilities and methods, which include but are not limited to, whole genome sequencing, molecular surge, Tuberculosis testing services, and a robust Biosafety Level 3 program. The County public health laboratory serves as the approved Centers for Dis...
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