Missouri receives $15.4 million to combat bioterrorism

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Missouri has received an additional $15.4 million from the federal government for its efforts in devising a plan to combat bioterrorism.

Federal Health and Human Services Director Tommy Thompson announced the funding Thursday as part of a plan to develop a unified response to public health emergencies by federal, state and local governments.

The latest release of money raises Missouri's total to $19.8 million in federal bioterrorism preparedness grants.

"With this money, Missouri can now more aggressively build its public health and emergency preparedness systems, providing greater protection and care for its citizens," Thompson said in a statement.

"Now that we have good plans, we need to get on with building. There's more work to do."

President Bush signed into law earlier this year an appropriations bill that sent $1.1 billion to states to strengthen local capabilities to deal with public health emergencies related to terrorism.

Thompson later asked states to develop bioterrorism plans linked to the federal grants.

Tim Daniel, Missouri's homeland security adviser, said the state had made progress in bioterrorism preparations before the Sept. 11 attacks.

He said the state's latest plan was built on that foundation.

"They did a tremendous job under a very tight time limit," Daniel said. "This is the first of what I hope is many grants. This is just the beginning."

Missouri expects to receive an additional $30 million in bioterrorism money from the federal government later this year.

The money will be used to coordinate regional bioterrorism plans, develop a communications network for critical medical information and train public health officials. State health officials and hospitals are developing plans to distribute the funding.

Missouri will be required to file progress reports to the federal health department detailing state access to important antibiotics and vaccines and the readiness of hospitals to deal with a surge of at least 500 acutely ill patients.

The state also is to update the federal government about coordination efforts among state agencies and hospitals and among Missouri and other states.

"For too long we have neglected our public health system in America," Thompson said. "Now we have the resources to build it up and we must seize this opportunity. It will pay large dividends in our ability to care for our citizens."