It seems that only five states met eight of 10 measures to detect public health preparedness.

The nation’s ability to respond to a wide range of deadly emergencies, from salmonella-tainted melons to weather events like Superstorm Sandy to bioterrorism, is losing ground after years of progress, says a report out Wednesday. Of the top five states, Mississippi is the only Gulf Coast state to receive the coveted 8 out of 10 score. Read the full story here…http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/12/19/public-health-emergency-preparedness/1778439/.