Excerpted from: ERRI DAILY INTELLIGENCE REPORT-ERRI Risk Assessment Services-Saturday, February 5, 2000-Vol. 6, No. 036

BIO-TERRORISM

Bio-Terrorism Preparedness

San Diego, CA - Margaret Hamburg, a bio-terrorism expert with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is concerned that the United States is not prepared for an terrorist attack on the United States using biological weapons. "This is a very real threat and there is a real urgency that we address it," Hamburg told the Associated Press on Friday.

Dr. D.A. Henderson, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Civilian Bio-defense Studies, agreed and said, "...we're doing a lot more now than we did 12 months, or even 6 months ago...but, we are a long way away from being even modestly prepared." "We're likely to see an attack within the next five to 10 years, Henderson warned. 

The statements were made at a conference in San Diego where 300 physicians, scientists, public officials and law enforcement officers have gathered to discuss strategies for dealing with a potentially devastating biological attack.

Clark Staten, Sr. National Security analyst at the Emergency Response & Research Institute (ERRI), said today that recent evidence that militants associated with alleged terror mastermind Usama bin Laden are attempting to acquire chemical and biological weapons may make the threat even more imminent. "We believe that Dr. Henderson may be 'conservative' in his estimate...we would estimate that a chemical or biological capability will be viable in the terrorist community within two years, if it is not already there," Staten said.

"While this should not be a cause for public panic, and the overall threat of these potentially high-impact events still remains relatively low...greater knowledge of this problem certainly should add motivation for increased awareness, training, and overall preparedness on the part of the emergency service and public heath officials," Staten added.

"Meetings like the one in San Diego, and statements from people like Dr. Henderson and Ms. Hamburg, should prompt 'naysayers' to reexamine their position...the threat of chemical or biological terrorism is increasing," he continued. "Now is the time to take advantage of a strategic lull in our 'war on terrorism' and use this valuable time to more adequately prepare for the weapons that terrorists may use in the future," the veteran counter-terrorism analyst said. 

"To do otherwise and wait until the first attack has occurred is simply folly...and could result in the unnecessary deaths or injuries of hundreds or even thousands of American citizens," Staten concluded.

• 07/14/99-08:30CDT- EmergencyNet Exclusive: Questions and Answers On Bio-Warfare/Bio-Terrorism (Q & A) with Dr. Ken Alibek 
• 02/22/99-09:30CST-Bioterrorism Attack; Fears Raised by Conference Exercise 
• 01/20/99-09:30CST--The Threat Of Biological Attack -- Is America Prepared?
• 12/98 -ANTHRAX ADVISORY; From: WMD Operations Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• 09/22/98-13:00CDT--Chicago Institute Calls For WMD "Lessons Learned" Database/Network
• 08/18/98 - 16:00CDT--Possible Chem/Bio Contamination Incident in Wichita. KS
• 07/08/98--New York City Prepares For Possible Terrorist Chem/Bio Incidents
• 06/23/98--Some Counter-Terrorism Experts Fear Smaller Groups In A Bio-Attack
• 08/07/9--Emergency Response to Chemical/Biological Terrorist Incidents  (Lesson On-Line)
• ERRI Hazardous Materials Operations Page

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