CDC Has New 'War Room' for Public Health
Posted on: Tuesday, 1 April 2003, 06:00 CST
By DANIEL YEE
ATLANTA (AP) -- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has a new $7.1 million emergency operations center to guard against bioterrorist attacks and help it track outbreaks of emerging diseases such as West Nile virus or severe acute respiratory syndrome.
The center went into action March 14, weeks earlier than its planned dedication, when the first cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome were announced by the World Health Organization.
The center allows health officials to receive data and information from disease detectives in the field, and officials can quickly confer with international and federal agencies during a health crisis.
"This is a war room for health," said Gov. Sonny Perdue, who toured the facility with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson on Tuesday.
"Any forensic or criminal investigator will tell you the best thing they can have at their fingertips is real-time information," Perdue said. "This is real-time information that gives us a headstart on disease outbreaks."
At one part of the center on Tuesday, CDC officers tackled the worldwide outbreak of SARS, which has made more than 1,800 people ill, killing more than 60.
There are stations that handle field teams, clinical concerns and international efforts against the disease.
Less sophisticated CDC crisis centers that tackled the 2001 anthrax attacks and last year's West Nile virus explosion across the country were held in available places at the time that included a classroom and an auditorium on the CDC campus.
A $3.9 million donation by Home Depot (HD) co-founder Bernard Marcus helped make the new center a reality and 15 companies helped provide equipment for the center through the CDC foundation.
Because of security concerns, CDC officials requested that the media not reveal the exact location of the center.
---
On the Net:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
More science, space, and technology from RedNova
Copyright © 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
Related Articles
- Mayor Julian 'Jolly' Reseueollo Dialysis Center Officially Opens Doors With Support From Bridge of Life - DaVita Medical Missions
- Burchfield Penney Art Center Officially Becomes First LEED Certified Art Museum in New York
- Revolution Health Named the ''Official Health and Wellness Partner'' of O, The Oprah Magazine's O You! Event in Miami to Promote ''Better Health and Balance'' for America's Busy Women
- PacificNet and Bellsystem24 - Japan's Largest Telemarketing Call Center - Officially Announced the Opening of CRM Joint Venture in Shanghai, China
- MetLife and PreViser Launch Oral Health Disease Management Pilot Program
- City to Get Air Freight Center: Officials Hope Project Boosts Development
- Medical Center Officials Report Massive Budget Gains
- Air Conditioner Unit, Possible Source of Toronto Disease Outbreak: Officials
- CDC Health Expert Has Symptoms of SARS
- Marshall Flight Center Official Leaving
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds