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To: Murrey Walker who wrote (43086)	10/9/2001 6:05:36 PM
From: stockman_scott	Respond to of 65232

Health System Underprepared for Bioterrorism Threats; Experts Urge Medical Officials Get Vaccines, Access to Intelligence By Anjetta McQueen Associated Press Writer Published: Oct 9, 2001 WASHINGTON (AP) - Only half the states have federal experts specially trained to prevent or contain bioterrorism, says a leading public health doctor who wants local officials to have better access to vaccines and information. "We also have to change the way we do business to meet the level of the threats now facing us," Dr. Mohammad Akhter, executive director of the American Public Health Association, told senators Tuesday. Only 24 states have Epidemic Intelligence Service Officers from the Centers for Disease Control. The government has 35 officers, which include medical doctors, researchers, and scientists, who serve in 2-year assignments with local health officials. Akhter said that only 32 states employ their own public health veterinarians, key to identifying diseases that either are transmitted from animals to humans or are usually found in animals, such as anthrax. Extra money should help train health workers, provide medicines to combat unleashed diseases and improve the methods for distributing such treatments during an attack, witnesses told the Senate health committee. Akhter, whose group represents 50,000 public health officials in federal, state and local governments, was among a group of scientists who testified that bioterrorism can't be fought with cash alone. They also urged flexibility for the 50 state and 3,000-plus city and county public health departments. The debate over increase funding comes as federal officials are investigating the possibility of foul play on two Florida anthrax cases. One man has died and hundreds of co-workers are getting tested for the disease. "The reality is that approximately 10 percent of the health departments in the United States do not even have e-mail," said Akhter. "Public health must be included in the intelligence process, and given appropriate clearance to review suspicious occurrences and threats. ... Good intelligence is key to preventing attacks." Top Senate lawmakers have proposed adding $1.4 billion to the $350 million that the federal government spends to detect, prevent and fight deadly diseases that might be spread by terrorists. "The fact remains that a biological or chemical attack on our soil could be even more deadly and destructive than the recent attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon," said Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn. Frist, a surgeon, and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., said they would meet with the White House to try to gain support for the package, which includes funds for the government medicine stockpile and food safety inspections. Other senators are proposing their own plans to increase bioterrorism funds. "It would not be sensible for the federal government to dictate what the most urgent spending priorities should be in Newark or Phoenix or Montgomery County, Md.," said Dr. D.A. Henderson of Johns Hopkins University. Known for his role helping wipe out smallpox in 1977, Henderson will head a new commission advising on bioterrorism preparedness. He said federal officials are shoring up supplies of smallpox vaccine. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson has insisted federal doctors are ready to combat any bioterrorist attack. But witnesses said doctors might not be able to detect symptoms of anthrax or other bioterror agents in time to save sufferers or to contain an outbreak of a contagious disease like smallpox. Many local departments are closed on weekends, and a Friday evening outbreak might not be identified until Monday morning, said Akhter. "There would be no discrete event; no explosion, no immediately obvious disaster to which firefighters and police and ambulances would rush," said Henderson, also director of the Johns Hopkins University Center for Civilian Biodefense Studies. ap.tbo.com

To: Murrey Walker who wrote (43086)	10/9/2001 6:14:28 PM
From: elpolvo	Respond to of 65232

hi mur- i used to spend too much time on fear. it was ruining my life and health. i gave it up. (it took more than logic and education to do it though - for me it took a spiritual epiphany and the courage to die at ANY moment). life works much better for me now. i don't miss many of it's subtleties. in fact... it's my FAVORITE thang! aaaaahh! -polvie

To: Murrey Walker who wrote (43086)	10/9/2001 10:15:51 PM
From: stockman_scott	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 65232

Senior Pakistani Intelligence Chief implicated by FBI in wiring funds to WTC hijacker NEW DELHI: While the Pakistani Inter Services Public Relations claimed that former ISI director-general Lt-Gen Mahmud Ahmad sought retirement after being superseded on Monday, the truth is more shocking. Top sources confirmed here on Tuesday, that the general lost his job because of the "evidence" India produced to show his links to one of the suicide bombers that wrecked the World Trade Centre. The US authorities sought his removal after confirming the fact that $100,000 were wired to WTC hijacker Mohammed Atta from Pakistan by Ahmad Umar Sheikh at the instance of Gen Mahumd. Senior government sources have confirmed that India contributed significantly to establishing the link between the money transfer and the role played by the dismissed ISI chief. While they did not provide details, they said that Indian inputs, including Sheikh's mobile phone number, helped the FBI in tracing and establishing the link. A direct link between the ISI and the WTC attack could have enormous repercussions. The US cannot but suspect whether or not there were other senior Pakistani Army commanders who were in the know of things. Evidence of a larger conspiracy could shake US confidence in Pakistan's ability to participate in the anti-terrorism coalition. Indian officials say they are vitally interested in the unravelling of the case since it could link the ISI directly to the hijacking of the Indian Airlines Kathmandu-Delhi flight to Kandahar last December. Ahmad Umar Sayeed Sheikh is a British national and a London School of Economics graduate who was arrested by the police in Delhi following a bungled 1994 kidnapping of four westerners, including an American citizen. timesofindia.com