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Battling Bioterror o o i co

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Government’s readiness is chdlenged as fear escalates 3. 03

o o o c By Lauric Garrett because we don’t know who to deal 3 STAFF WRITER with” on the federal level, Wolinsky CD said. i With public anxiety about bioterror­ No government authority has explic­ ism on the rise, gas mask sales soaring and talk shows rife- with alarming itly said that members of the suspect­ ‘We’ve got to make sure that claims, the head of the federal depart­ ed terrorist network believed to be re­ sponsible for the Sept. 11 attacks have people understand that they’re ment of Health and Human Services, Tommy Thompson, yesterday said plans for a biological assault inside the safe. And that we’re prepared to America is prepared to deal with any kind of biological attack. United States. But the issue moved strongly into the public consciousness take care of any contingency ... But public health experts through­ last week following announcements by Attorney General John Ashcroft. that develops from any kind of out the nation say yesterday’s com­ ments, made on the CBS show “60 Min­ Last Monday, Ashcroft said there hioferrorism attack.’ utes,” don’t reflect a 2-week-long gag were indications suspected terrorists -L HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson order that’s kept them from getting had looked into renting crop dusters. I specific information about prepared­ One day later, he said suspected terror­ ness from such agencies as the Cen­ ists had obtained licenses for trucks tion ftom the CDC have been fended alert — are merely standard operating ters for Disease Control and Preven­ that can carry large tankloads of dan­ off since the Sept. 11 attacks. Sources procedure under guidelines for emer- tion in Atlanta, leading to confusion gerous materials. have told Newsday - that Thompson - has gency response drawn up during the and concern. By Wednesday, doctors and pharma- Pven Orders that his office is the only Clinton years. “I’ve had people calling me. They cists from Montauk to Honolulu were P’^^e that can release mform^ion Missing, they say, is detailed, logisti­ can’t get through to the CDC, because reporting runs on the antibiotic ciprof- . ^ut caUs to Thompson s office dur- cal information that can guide their ef­ the CDC isn’t allowed to talk to any- loxicin, tl|e preferred prophylaxis for mg th^s time have, not been returned. forts locally. body. They can’t get through to HHS. anthrax infection. Gas mask sales Yesterday, on “60 Minutes,” Thomp- “It’s really bad,” said Margaret Ham­ And they’re just terrified,” said Dr. were vigorous nationwide, and by the son said: “ We’ve got to make sure that burg, now head of the Nuclear Threat ........... James Curran, dean of the Rollins end of the week most Internet distribu- people; understand that they’re safe. Initiative in Washington, D.G., and a § School of Public Health at Emory Uni- tors reported they were sold out. And that we’re prepared to take care of former assistant secretary of HHS and ” versity in Atlanta. Finally, on Saturday, Newsweek any cohtingency, any consequence that New York City health commissioner. ; “I think it’s stupid,” he said. “I think added an exclamation mark to the ac- develojis from any kind of bioterrorism “This is when they need to provide g the CDC ought to be responding.” tivity with the release of a poll saying attackl” leadership, a visual presence . . . the g Dr. Steven Wolinsky, chief of infec- that almost half of Americans are “not He Said eight staging areas around voice of the surgeon general comfort­ tious diseases for Northwestern Uni- too confident” that government in this America are each stocked with 50 tons ing people.” versity Medical School in Chicago, country is prepared to handle an at- of medical supplies — including vac- One issue that may be affecting that g agrees. He said that as soon as he saw tack with biochemical weapons. And cines, intibiotics, gas masks and venti- presence, sources in government say, § the videotape ofthejets slamming into just over eight in 10 in the poll, which lators — that can be moved within is the amount of time now being taken S the World Trade Center, he decided to suiweyed 1,000 adults, thought the use hours to the site of a bioterrorist event, by top health officials to cement a role > set up a meeting with leading infec- of such weapons is at least “somewhat The secretary also said that 7,000 med- within the anti-terrorism hierarchy. Q tious-disease doctors in the Chicago likely.” ical porsonnefare ready to respond. Dr. Scott Lillibridge, a bioterrorism g area to make sure they were ready. Despite these concerns, attempts by Yet 'public health experts point out expert for the CDC, was named a.s Th- z “But we are meeting the same diffi- the media — and evep nji.qsl,hQgillhiPr9r-i » IVati those steps — placing •drog^’ int ----------------------------------------- culties [as other health professionals) fessional.s — to get specific informa- stockpiles and putting physicians on See BIOTERRORISM on A6