Safety

Report finds public health system unprepared for bioterror attack

Emergency Management Alert, March 25, 2003

The U.S. public health system is not ready to deal with a bioterrorism attack or outbreaks of infectious disease such as the mysterious pneumonia strain that began recently in China, an Institute of Medicine (IOM) panel said on March 18.

The IOM panel called on the U.S. government to take an increased role in monitoring, preventing, and treating infectious disease at home and abroad, Reuters reports. The U.S. must take the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak more seriously before it becomes a problem here, said Margaret Hamburg, IOM panel co-chair.

The report also noted concern about the rise of antibiotic resistance and urged more education on appropriate use of drugs. The panel warned against the stockpiling of antibiotics in anticipation of war and bioterrorism, adding that a national supply can be moved to wherever it is needed.

In addition, the federal government must develop new classes of antimicrobials, maintain adequate vaccine supplies, and roll out a national vaccine strategy, according to the report.

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