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Executive Summary
Pages 1-8

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From page 1...
... Thus, investments in research on bioterrorism will have enormous potential for application in the detection, prevention, and treatment of emerging infectious diseases that also are unpredictable and against which we must be prepared. The deciphering of the human genome sequence and the complete elucidation of numerous pathogen genomes, our rapidly increasing understanding of the molecular mechanisms of pathogenesis and of immune responses, and new strategies for designing drugs and vaccines all offer unprecedented opportunities to use science to counter bioterrorist threats.
From page 2...
... The use of high-throughput methodologies that are being increasingly utilized in modern biological research should be an important component of this expanded and highly automated surveillance strategy. Recommendation 4: Use knowledge of complex biological patterns and highthroughput laboratory automation to classify and diagnose infections in patients in primary care settings.
From page 3...
... In addition, multidisciplinary research in bioterrorism forensics is necessary to enable attribution of a weapon to its source and the identification of persons involved in a bioterrorist act. Preparedness for bioterrorist attacks should be improved by creating a public-health research system and by developing surge capacity to deal effectively with such terrorist attacks as well as with natural catastrophes.
From page 4...
... Recommendation 11: Create a public health reserve system and develop surge capacity. As part of a broader planning process, create a health reserve system of health care professionals (modeled on the military reserve system)
From page 5...
... Effective preparedness for countering bioterrorism will not only require focused and sustained efforts to build the nation's public and agricultural health infrastructures (including the training of health care professionals in detection, surveillance, prevention, and response) ; it will also require substantial changes in the way government-supported research is executed.
From page 6...
... A much more inclusive effort is needed to build a seamless system of preparedness and response one that can exercise the best available tools to counter biological threats. This task depends first and foremost on rebuilding the public health infrastructure of the United States, which has been allowed to decay as the nation conquered some of the more common infectious and other disease challenges of the past century.
From page 7...
... Efforts that protect humans, animals, and plants from bioterrorism will also help us prevail in that neverending contest with natural threats.


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