Many States Have Inadequate Response Procedures for Bioterrorist, Chemical Attacks, HHS Official Says (USA)

Main Category: Bio-terrorism / Terrorism
Article Date: 27 Feb 2005 - 9:00 PDT

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Fewer than 25% of states can respond at all times of the day to hospital alerts about patients who might have experienced bioterrorist or chemical attacks, William Raub,... HHS principal deputy assistant secretary for public health emergency preparedness, said at a recent CDC public health conference, the AP/Wall Street Journal reports. According to Raub, several states have not reviewed new laws and rules for quarantine enacted after Sept. 11, 2001. He added that many states also do not have the ability to use the national emergency supply of vaccines to immunize large groups of residents. However, Raub said that more than 90% of states have at least one epidemiologist in each metropolitan area with a population of more than 500,000. "Preparing for catastrophic events almost guarantees readiness for lesser -- and possibly more likely -- challenges. Improving performance will be the key," Raub said (AP/Wall Street Journal, 2/24).

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