An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - shoring up the public health infrastructure to respond to bioterrorist attacks

US public health departments must be prepared for the possibility of a biol ogical terrorist event. Readiness means not only making sure our national s ecurity systems are adequate and vigilant, but that public health has the a bility and resources to rapidly identify, investigate, and control the cons equences of a terrorist event. Preparing for a bioterrorist attack will als o improve public health's ability to address infectious disease outbreaks, food safety concerns, and environmental hazards.