The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #48694

John F. Domzalski, JD, MPH, Health Commissioner, Philadelphia Department of Public Health, 1101 Market Street, Suite 840, Philadelphia, PA 19107, 215-685-5680, john.domzalski@phila.gov

The scope of the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 attack on the United States was well beyond what anyone ever imagined before that tragic day. Philadelphia’s location between New York City and Washington, DC, and its proximity to the New Jersey postal facility that was found to be contaminated with anthrax spores, kept the citizens and government of Philadelphia at a heightened state of alert for the four months following the attack.

As the lead agency in the Philadelphia government for bioterrorism events, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health (PDPH) coordinated a multi-faceted response. A major activity was the activation of rapid assessment teams to address public concerns about anthrax and other possible threats. In addition to taking the lead in directing emergency preparedness activities, the PDPH was an integral part of the response by other City and Federal emergency and law enforcement agencies.

The presentation will convene a panel of experts to discuss the Philadelphia response to the events of September 11. Representatives from City government, including the Philadelphia Fire, Police and Public Health Departments, and the Office of Emergency Management will discuss their roles in the response efforts. Issues to be discussed include, steps to address disease surveillance, incident management, mass triage, patient care, fatality management and environmental surety issues, including the preparation for mass vaccination of persons living and working in Philadelphia. The audience will hear first hand about the challenges and opportunities the City of Philadelphia faced.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participants will be able to discuss (
• a multi-faceted response by local govenement to bioterrorism in a large metropolitan area, (
• the need to recognize and adequately address public concerns related to bioterrorism, and (
• the impact bioterrorism can have on the resources of a local health department.

Keywords: Bioterrorism, Infectious Diseases

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.