Local public health officials

are prepared to respond to bioterrorism attacks here if necessary.

The response to reports of

chemical exposure would be very similar to its routine investigations

of certain infectious diseases, said Susan Ayers, director of nursing

and clinical services for the public health district that covers Fayette

County.

Laurie Cook, the District 4

director of environmental health, said officials have been on the highest

state of alert since the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington,

D.C. several weeks ago.

The readiness takes on more

weight with reports out of Florida Tuesday that two coworkers have been

diagnosed with exposure to anthrax, a bioterrorism chemical. One of those

victims has died, according to national media reports. Dozens of coworkers

are receiving antibiotics as a precaution.

If a similar case were reported

here, public health officials would investigate who might have come into

contact with the chemicals, make sure those persons are notified and distribute

medication if necessary, Ayers said.

"The CDC (Centers for

Disease Control) will be very involved in anything unusual," Ayers

said. "... We would work around the clock if need be."

A big key in the process is

making sure that hospitals and private physicians report suspected cases

to the state. A statewide computer network designed to handle that process

would notify local public health authorities to take action.

That same system is used to

report possible cases of other infectious diseases such as E coli and

meningitis, Ayers said.

A statewide conference on public

health response to bioterrorism attacks is scheduled for mid-November.

But Cook said local public health officials were training for bioterrorism

response well before the terrorist attacks Sept. 11. Training is led by

Dr. Michael Brackett, the district's medical director, who has taken a

personal interest in the issue.

Public health officials also

are prepared to respond to other natural disasters, such as the floods

in Albany, Ga., which occurred in 1995. Health Department employees can

help inspect public shelter areas and make sure food service standards

are met during such a crisis, Ayers added.

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