Our Region & Bio-Terrorism

How ready are local authorities for an anthrax incident?

It's a subject that's being talked about a lot. The keys are coordination between agencies and correctly diagnosing the malady.

Philadelphia Deputy Health Commissioner John Domzalski says plans to handle Anthrax and other bio-terrorism threats would use resources from local, state and federal government agencies ... as well as private business and local hospitals.

City officials outlined their plans last week.

Harold Hairston/Philadelphia Fire Commissioner: "Coveralls for decontaminated civilians, respirators for work outside the hotzone... medical and pharmaceutical supplies to treat victims." Area local governments, like the Delaware County Emergency Management Agency, are also planning for the possibility of bioterrorism.

They will take equipment and resources that might be used in industrial accidents ... and use them to treat and decontaminate people exposed in a biological or chemical attack.

Since the Republican Convention a year ago, Philadelphia health officials have been educating doctors at local hospitals.

It would be critically important that doctors correctly diagnose the symptoms.

Because Anthrax can quietly infect people over several days without health officials making a connection.

The Philadelphia Health Department is monitoring local hospitals to spot any signs of bioterrorism.

With all the preparation and planning, some experts are still concerned.

Despite all the plans to deal with an atrocity like bio or chemical weapons, some don't believe we're as ready as we need to be.

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Author: 6 - ABC, Action News