CDC Urges Awareness Of Threat Of Emerging Diseases

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ATLANTA, Feb 08 (Reuters Health) - The United States cannot afford to be

complacent about the dual risks of emerging infectious diseases and

bioterrorism, Dr. M. , Director of the National Center for

Infectious Diseases, warned at a meeting here on Monday.

" Infectious disease remains an important cause of death in the United States

and ranks third behind heart disease and cancer in mortality burden, "

according to Dr. . " Tremendous progress has been made, but since 1980,

infectious disease mortality has begun to rise again. Because such great

progress has been made, many people may feel we have infectious diseases

licked, but that is not the case. "

Dr. also commented on the hidden dangers of bioterrorism. " When

people think of a bioterrorist attack, they sometimes think of a chemical

exposure which can be easily contained, but if it is a result of an attack

with a microorganism, the delay from exposure to onset won't necessarily be

easily recognizable as a bioterrorist attack, " he told Reuters Health.

Speaking at the Sixth National Symposium on Biosafety, Dr. noted that

physicians are on the front line for recognizing emerging infectious

diseases. He told Reuters Health that " it is important for them to recognize

that when they are dealing with individual patients, that patient may be

part of something larger going on in the community. "

He cited the example of two physicians in New York who were responsible for

first reporting the West Nile Virus outbreak, in August of last year. " That

is the type of awareness that physicians need in order to contain the spread

of infectious diseases, " Dr. said.

-Westport Newsroom 203 319 2700