WSU NEWS: WSU Veterinary College Recommends Best Sources of Information for Anthrax and Bioterrorism Concerns

[WSU News Bureau <wsunews@wsu.edu>]

10/18/2001

Contact:
Charlie Powell, 509/335-7073 or 208/882-1134, cpowell@vetmed.wsu.edu

WSU Veterinary College Recommends Best Sources of Information for Anthrax 
and Bioterrorism Concerns

PULLMAN, Wash. -- The Washington State University College of Veterinary 
Medicine has assembled a list of Web sites providing the best available 
information on anthrax and bioterrorism as well as other agents that are 
most likely to be used.

"Crisis communications and terrorism experts agree that reliable and 
readily accessible sources of information are among the most powerful tools 
for combating public panic and the psychological effects of terrorism," 
explains Tom Besser, a professor, board certified veterinary 
microbiologist, and director of the Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic 
Laboratory. "This is especially important when it comes to the complex 
world of bioterrorism."

Dr. Besser said the scientists, the media, and the public must work 
together to inform people where they can find the best information.

"A lack of expertise and poor media scrutiny of sources can frighten the 
general public and cause people to react negatively to relatively rare 
events that represent a very low risk to personal or public health," said 
Dr. Besser. "I imagine this is exactly the effect a terrorist wants to 
create; a fear of the unknown supported by little or poor information 
disseminated widely and rapidly."

"The good news," says Dr. Besser, "is that it's relatively easy for people 
to access excellent sources of information, educate themselves and their 
families, and reduce their fears and anxieties accordingly. As the American 
media spreads information about reliable sources of information, we become 
our own best protection."

Dr. Besser along with veterinarians in the Washington State Veterinarian's 
office and the Washington Department of Health offer the following as some 
of the best and most reliable sources of information on anthrax and 
bioterrorism available.

Anthrax specific

New York State Department of Health communicable disease fact sheet on anthrax:
http://www.health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/consumer/anthrax.htm

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Veterinary Services anthrax fact sheet:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/pubs/anthrax.pdf

Texas Animal Health Commission anthrax informational brochure concerning 
agricultural animals in lay language:
http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/PRODUCTION/News/Press_Releases/Asking_About_Anthrax.pdf

Anthrax concerns in domestic cats
http://web.vet.cornell.edu/public/fhc/anthrax.html


General bioterrorism

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - Public Health Emergency 
Preparedness, fact sheets
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/DocumentsApp/FactsAbout/FactsAbout.asp

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention - Public Health Emergency 
Preparedness; Disease/agent specific information pertaining to two basic 
categories--biological agents/diseases and chemical agents:
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/Agent/Agentlist.asp

Public Health - Seattle & King County, communicable diseases and 
bioterrorism information with an extensive list of links to other valuable 
sources information on this subject:
http://www.metrokc.gov/health/bioterrorism/

American Veterinary Medical Association current information on terrorist 
attacks and communicable diseases affecting animals and humans:
http://www.avma.org/press/terrorist_attack/

Washington State Department of Health
http://www.doh.wa.gov/Alerts/BioTerrorism.htm









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Washington State University
News Bureau
French Ad #442
Pullman, WA  99164-1040
509/335-3581, e-mail: wsunews@wsu.edu
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