We can’t afford to forget the threat of bioterror

Don’t mean to spoil the holiday mood here, but have you thought about bioterrorism lately? No doubt it was on your mind three months ago, even last month when the latest anthrax letter attack made headlines almost daily.

Americans have plenty going on now though, and it doesn’t take much time to put aside preparing for what might seem like an unlikely threat. Fortunately there are those in our country and much closer to home who haven’t forgotten about the issue and are actually doing something about it. The least we can do is acknowledge the threat is still real.

The Snohomish Health District’s bioterror team is closer to hiring its first member, a manager. Dr. M. Ward Hinds, head of the countywide public health agency, recently said the district hopes to have the spot filled by the end of the year.

This position promises to be an important one on the four-person team, since picking up on symptoms of patients in hospitals throughout the county and coordinating efforts in the event of such an attack is going to be critical. The qualifications for the team’s top job are relatively open so as not to overlook qualified candidates, Hinds said. Minimum requirements include a bachelor’s degree in disease control or epidemiology and supervisory and management experience in the field. That sounds awfully open for such an important post. But this is an employer’s market, so the chances of attracting highly qualified candidates seem good.

Financing this group is no doubt going to be an issue — probably this legislative session. Although the district will cover the $238,000 it will cost to operate the team in its first year, money will likely have to come from other sources in the very near future. The Legislature will have its hands full with transportation and budget issues this session, but room must be made to address the issue of terrorism. Help should come in the form of federal assistance that should make its way to state and local health agencies. While officials deal with the technical and legal intricacies, it’s difficult for the rest of us to know what to do to help out. Perhaps the best thing we can do for now is to not forget that bioterror is still a reality. Sept. 11 taught us that anything is impossible — even the horribly outrageous. The despicable anthrax hoaxes taught us that we’re not overreacting by being prepared.

We can’t afford to forget.

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