State health officials seek funds to fight bioterrorism

Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2001 | 9:58 a.m.

Nevada health officials on Monday told lawmakers that they need more money for infectious disease monitoring, training and laboratory equipment to better prepare for possible bioterrorism.

State epidemiologist Randall Todd also warned the Legislative Committee on Health Care that hospitals and medical professionals should be on high alert when Nevada plays host to large gatherings.

"Comdex and Hot August Nights (in Reno) are events that would be attractive to a terrorist and, by using infectious agents, terrorists could reach many more people," Todd said. "When there is a high profile event there are some types of surveillance that could be put into place temporarily.

"Hospitals can be put on alert, and we can begin to monitor certain symptoms so that if certain specific clusters emerge, we can identify them rather quickly."

Todd, accompanied by state health officer Dr. Mary Guinan in Carson City, testified before lawmakers at the Grant Sawyer State Office Building via closed-circuit television. Their aim was to update the committee on the state's preparedness for attacks involving deadly pathogens.

That preparedness was put to test earlier this month, when state health officials responded to a letter sent to Microsoft in Reno that was initially feared to be tainted with the deadly anthrax bacteria. That claim turned out to be unfounded, but the state health system was still flooded with calls from residents concerned about their well-being.

"I don't know what it would be like if we had sick people as well as the worried well flooding the system," Todd said.

Guinan said the state since 1999 received grants from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta to help prepare for bioterrorism. The state has activated a health alert network in which medical professionals are warned by fax or e-mail about possible outbreaks of infectious diseases. Local doctors and nurses are also being trained on how to spot patients who may have contracted contagious viruses or other dangerous pathogens.

But Todd said more could be done. He said the state could use more trained health workers to help identify biological outbreaks, updated state health laboratory capabilities and training exercises on bioterrorism.

State Sen. Ray Rawson, R-Las Vegas, recommended as committee chairman that lawmakers form a subcommittee to determine whether legislative action is needed to improve the state's bioterrorism preparedness. He also said the state would be wise to revisit its disaster relief funding to determine whether it is still adequate.

"This is sensitive information, and I'm reluctant to identify high-profile targets. But the discussion has to take place," Rawson said.