The Public health response to biological and chemical terrorism : interim planning guidance for state public health officials

Abstract

Across the country, state health department officials are considering the capabilities of their departments to respond to a biological or chemical terrorism incident. Traditionally, the responsibilities of the state health departments have been disease surveillance and management. Health departments now are defining their roles to respond effectively to an intentional release of biological organisms or hazardous chemicals into an unsuspecting population. In federal fiscal year 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) received congressionally-appropriated funds to enter into multi-year cooperative agreements aimed at upgrading state and local health department preparedness and response capabilities relative to bioterrorism. A portion of these funds was used to facilitate preparedness and readiness assessments. Grantees receiving the Focus Area A Funds must develop terrorism response plans. In return, CDC committed to developing planning guidance. The Public Health Response to Biological and Chemical Terrorism: Interim Planning Guidance for State Public Health Officials fulfills that commitment.This Planning Guidance is designed to help state public health officials determine the roles of their departments in response to biological and chemical terrorism and to understand the emergency response roles of local health departments and the emergency management system. The Planning Guidance also can be used to help state health departments coordinate their efforts with the many agencies and organizations at all levels of government that ultimately would respond to a biological or chemical terrorism event.Response efforts differ according to each state=s size, population, risks, needs, and capabilities. Rather than establishing a Aone size fits all@ model, this document provides general guidance that can be tailored to meet the needs of individual jurisdictions.Includes bibliographical references.20011190