Question: What is our state’s community quarantine or isolation laws/procedure regarding highly infectious diseases like Ebola? I read a National Public Radio article — n.pr/1shBMRl — that said it is 99.9 percent a state practice to determine when to quarantine someone involuntarily, which surprised me. If we have procedures in place, does the Department of Health/law enforcement have drills or run tabletop exercises on this scenario?

Answer: Yes, the state does conduct drills and exercises to practice a coordinated response to public health emergencies, said Health Department spokeswoman Janice Okubo.

Such preparation is necessary to be ready for the worst-case scenarios in the event of natural disasters, large-scale disease outbreaks, chemical spills or other catastrophic events.

Conducting and participating in exercises and training for public health emergency response is a requirement for federal grant funds received from the (Centers for Disease Control) each year, Okubo said.

 She said exercises range from complex tabletop discussions to full-scale operational practice sessions, with the Health Department sometimes partnering with other agencies, such as the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency or the Healthcare Association of Hawaii.

District Health Offices on Hawaii, Kauai and Maui also conduct or participate in exercises and drills each year that may be specific to their county or part of a statewide effort.

Additionally, Okubo said, there are programs within the DOH, such as the Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office, the Radiological Health program and the State Laboratories Division, that regularly conduct drills or exercises with federal, county or state partners and response networks.

Regarding quarantine, the DOH does have the authority to order involuntary isolation or quarantine after obtaining "a written, ex parte order" from a state court.

(See Section 325-0008 of the Hawaii Revised Statutes: 1.usa.gov/1wdNn4E.)

"The courts ensure the protection of an individual’s civil rights," Okubo said.

That all said, "The need for involuntary isolation and/or quarantine is very rare,"she added. "In an infectious disease situation where an individual could place others at risk, the department first seeks voluntary compliance."

Auwe and Mahalo

Auwe to the man walking a small dog in Kapiolani Park earlier this month. It escaped its leash, and after you took it back to your car, you beat that poor little dog, hitting it repeatedly in the face and body with your fists. I tried to talk to you, but you sped off, ignoring me but still cursing the dog. Shame on you! You told city workers that it wasn’t your dog, that you were just baby-sitting it. I hope the owner sees this and recognizes you. I reported you to the Hawaiian Humane Society. May your cowardly, reprehensible behavior be revisited upon you a thousandfold.

(A few days later.)

Mahalo to Humane Society officer Vernon Ling and HPD officer Gavin Heyworth, who both responded when I reported seeing the man’s car parked again at Kapiolani Park. Both officers talked to the man, and officer Ling also was going to check on the welfare of the dog. The man denied any wrongdoing, but I am grateful both officers took the time to try to resolve this issue. Humane Society officers cover a large portion of the island and are terribly overworked. Without both officers’ diligence and concern, nothing more would’ve come from this. At the very least they hopefully made this man aware of his inappropriate behavior. At most they may have saved an innocent animal’s life. — Hoku

On its website the Hawaiian Humane Society says it investigates all tips of potential animal cruelty and abuse between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily. Call 356-2250.

The HHS says it is "the only authority outside of HPD that can rescue animals and investigate cruelty" on behalf of the city, "walk(ing) a fine line between education and enforcement, exercising both based on what’s best for the animals."

Write to “Kokua Line” at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.