United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2003-10-15 monographic deposited born digital 48 p. GA 1.13:GAO-04-152 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-152 P0b002ee180386b62 f:d04152 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-152 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-152 GAO-04-152 Chemical and biological agents Emergency medical services Emergency preparedness Health hazards National preparedness Homeland security Other Written Product A08726 In the fall of 2001, letters containing anthrax spores were mailed to news media personnel and congressional officials, leading to the first cases of anthrax infection related to an intentional release of anthrax in the United States. Outbreaks of anthrax infection were concentrated in six locations, or epicenters, in the country. An examination of the public health response to the anthrax incidents provides an important opportunity to apply lessons learned from that experience to enhance the nation's preparedness for bioterrorism. Because of its interest in bioterrorism preparedness, Congress asked GAO to review the public health response to the anthrax incidents. Specifically, GAO determined (1) what was learned from the experience that could help improve public health preparedness at the local and state levels and (2) what was learned that could help improve public health preparedness at the federal level and what steps have been taken to make those improvements. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-152/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-152.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-152/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-152.pdf GAO-04-152 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-04-152 Other Written Product GAO-04-152; Bioterrorism: Public Health Response to Anthrax Incidents of 2001; Chemical and biological agents Emergency medical services Emergency preparedness Health hazards National preparedness Homeland security