Montgomery – Alabama's public health department fared well in the first federal report detailing preparations for possible bioterror attacks and other crises.
The new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave Alabama a score of 92 out of 100 points for its plan and ability to respond to health crises ranging from a hurricane on the coast to a possible anthrax attack.
Dr. Donald Williamson is director of the Alabama Department of Public Health. He said that part of the report on general responsiveness might be the most important of all.
Williamson said Alabama's main state lab has made significant improvements using the federal money. And the report said the state can investigate urgent disease reports on a 24/7 basis, then report its findings across state lines.
The CDC report was the government's first assessment of the impact of more than 5 billion dollars spent since the 2001 terrorist attacks to prepare for health emergencies. The report looked at the staffing, laboratory capability and other resources of health agencies.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)