Battling Bioterrorism: Why Time Information-Sharing Between Local, State and Federal Governments Is the Key to Protecting Public Health

Report of a hearing on the information-sharing capabilities of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for responding to a bioterrorism threat. The best initial defense against public health threats, whether naturally occurring or deliberately caused, continues to be accurate, timely recognition and reporting of problems. The report reviews the CDC's March 2001 report, "Public Health's Infrastructure: Every Health Department Fully Prepared, Every Community Better Protected" and examines progress to date in meeting the goals set forth in that report and the timeframes for reaching those goals. Lessons learned from the recent events related to the anthrax incidents in October and November 2001 as well as existing pilot programs on the Health Alert Network and the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System are discussed. The effect media reporting played in the public health community's response to the anthrax incidents is also reviewed.