The SARS Epidemic: The American Scene; Lessons of Anthrax Attacks Help U.S. Respond to SARS

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http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30710F73D580C718CDDAC0894DB404482

Foreign Desk | May 2, 2003, Friday
THE SARS EPIDEMIC: THE AMERICAN SCENE; Lessons of Anthrax Attacks Help U.S. Respond to SARS

By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG (NYT) 1331 words
Late Edition - Final , Section A , Page 14 , Column 1

ABSTRACT - United States government is being given high marks for its aggressive handling of SARS, even by critics who had accused senior health officials of bungling response to last major health emergency, anthrax attacks of Oct 2001; Health and Human Services Sec Tommy G Thompson speaks of 'whole new feeling of responsiveness'; most experts say SARS has been less of challenge than anthrax, which came without warning; SARS first emerged in China, giving American health officials time to prepare; unlike Canada, where single SARS patient infected dozens of others, US has apparently had no such 'super spreaders'; Thompson is leaving nothing to chance; gets daily briefings and has met twice with Pres Bush to discuss epidemic; shares concerns of some experts that SARS could wane in warm months, then come roaring back in fall; drawing (M) The government's daily SARS briefing takes place each morning at 10:15, inside a secure high-tech command center that did not exist six months ago. Tommy G. Thompson, the secretary of health and human services, presided on Wednesday, surrounded by 60-inch-wide plasma screens and a collection of giant maps that plot the epidemic's march around the globe.

''Julie told me there was a new outbreak in Taiwan. Is that true?'' Mr. Thompson asked, referring to Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a branch of the health agency. C.D.C. officials, participating by satellite video from their headquarters in Atlanta, said they were looking into it.



 

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