U.S. IMMUNIZATION NEWS

“Assemblyman: State Not Prepared for Smallpox”

Associated Press (www.ap.org) (12/04/01); Westfeldt, Amy

http://www.immunizationinfo.org/

New Jersey officials say that they are preparing for a potential smallpox bioterrorist attack, working to develop a plan to protect the state’s residents using a report drafted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  State Assemblyman Eric Munoz (R-Summit), who is also a trauma surgeon, wrote administrators on the new bioterrorism task force appointed by Gov.-elect Jim McGreevey urging better preparations, noting that New Jersey would be a prime target because of its proximity to New York City.  Another concern is the fact that New Jersey is home to many pharmaceutical companies as well and an outbreak of the disease could potentially force the quarantine of the state and curtail drug production.  According to experts, smallpox usually kills nearly one third of its victims, and an outbreak of such a highly contagious virus could be devastating to communities.

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