On a day when letters containing

mysterious powder was sent to Georgia's two United States Senators, several

dozen citizens packed the South Fulton Service Center last week to find

out more about bioterrorism. An informational meeting was held March 25

to inform citizens about the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness

role in preparing for a Bioterrorism event.

In opening statements Fulton

County District 7 Commissioner William "Bill" Edwards said that

in today's environment, his thoughts returned to his days in the Boy Scouts

and the Scout motto "Be prepared". He added that the entire

Fulton County Board of Commissioners wanted everybody in Fulton County

to be safe. Commissioner Edwards stated that Fulton County already have

staff on hand to be ready to handle terrorism and that Fulton did not

have to do like Dekalb County had to do by hiring new employees to handle

terrorism.

The meeting was then turned

over to Dr. Adewale Troutman, M.D., M.P.H., Director of the Fulton County

Department of Health and Wellness. Dr. Troutman said this was the first

time that this presentation had ever been given in Fulton County. He said

that with additional federal funds that had become available that his

department had been able to bring on additional staff to supplement staff

already on hand including a bioterrorism trainer and a crisis communication

specialist.

Dr. Troutman said the most

important part of public health was to get