Idaho misses the mark in health survey

COEUR d'ALENE — In a new report, Idaho scored three out of 10 on key indicators related to infectious disease prevention, detection and response. The state tied with six others for the lowest score.

The report, "Outbreaks: Protecting Americans from Infectious Diseases," was produced by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Trust for America's Health.

"The overuse of antibiotics and underuse of vaccinations along with unstable and insufficient funding have left major gaps in our country's ability to prepare for infectious disease threats," Dr. Jeffrey Levi, executive director of Trust for America's Health, said in a statement. "We cannot afford to continue to be complacent. Infectious diseases — which are largely preventable — disrupt the lives of millions of Americans and contribute to billions of dollars in unnecessary health care costs each year."

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