New Issue of Health Affairs Focuses on Public Health and Bioterrorism
To coincide with the one-year anniversary of the first anthrax attacks in the United States, the November/December issue of Health Affairs focuses on public health and bioterrorism. The following are highlights of the articles featured in the issue:
- "Strengthening the Nation's Public Health Infrastructure: Historic Challenge, Unprecedented Opportunity": Former CDC Director Jeffrey Koplan and Assistant Surgeon General Edward Baker examine why a strong public health system is important to prevent bioterrorist attacks and other public health problems.
- "Public Health and National Security: The Critical Role of Increased Federal Support": Sen. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) says the public health infrastructure has "greatly deteriorated" over the last several years, adding that the federal government needs to increase its financial support of the public health system in order for "America to regain and maintain the capacity necessary to respond to today's increased bioterrorist threats."
- "Public Health Law in An Age of Terrorism: Rethinking Individual Rights and Common Goods": Lawrence Gostin, a Georgetown University law professor, examines why existing public health laws should be changed and defends the "controversial" Model State Emergency Health Powers Act, contending that it is designed to "defend personal as well as collective interests."
- "Dealing with the Dangers of Fear: The Role of Risk Communication": George Gray and David Ropeik of the Harvard University Center for Risk Analysis examine the importance of risk communication as a way to alleviate fears associated with terrorism, saying that the "government could, and should, be doing more to recognize and combat the risks we face from being afraid" (Health Affairs release, 11/12).
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