CMA, UCLA Establish Education Programs on Bioterrorism for Physicians, Public Health Officials
In light of the discovery of several cases of anthrax across the country in the past two weeks, two California organizations are organizing statewide "educational campaigns" for physicians who have never treated patients infected with anthrax or other agents of bioterrorism, the Los Angeles Times reports. The California Medical Association is planning a campaign to educate physicians about how to diagnose anthrax and other biochemical agents. And the University of California-Los Angeles, in conjunction with the state and the CDC, will conduct a seminar series for public health officials about bioterrorism and has developed a "training program" for doctors and hospital workers. In addition, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is keeping laboratories open for anthrax testing 24 hours a day and has added a bioterrorism information page to its Web site (Bernstein, Los Angeles Times, 10/16).
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