Emergency Response to an Anthrax Attack
 

This article presents a community-wide response plan to an anthrax attack. The model presented relies heavily upon healthcare system support from nonprofessionals. For an atmospheric dispersion of anthrax, nonprofessionals would be needed to distribute antibiotics. Nonprofessionals would also be needed to help hospitals be capable of great surges in patient volume. Comment: the term "nonprofessionals" here obviously means non-medically trained personnel. The healthcare system has always relied upon community support from volunteers that may not have formal training in medicine. The main point of this article is the need for aggressive use and distribution of antibiotics to asymptomatic individuals immediately after an atmospheric anthrax dispersion. [ Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, Vol. 100, Issue 7, 4346-4351, April 1, 2003 ]