Letters

Building Biodef ense

Having worked in biodefense for a good number of years, I read "Something in the Air" (May 15) with great interest. I am elated that the federal government is making technological investments in improving our nation's abilities to manage the consequences of a large-scale

The best monitors in the world are rendered useless unless the people who receive that monitoring information are part of an integrated response system that successfully networks information from medical surveillance, epidemiological investigations and law enforcement intelligence. Once the overall system is activated, it has to be flexible in managing response functions ranging from mass prophylaxis to medical care of the infected to quarantining and isolation.

I agree that monitors provide crucial data. But they are not, in and of themselves, a solution to bioterrorism preparedness.

Mohamed A. Mughal, Ph.D.