Health officials in two states this week tested capabilities to respond to biological and chemical attacks, according to reports.

In Arkansas, health workers administered flu shots to 5,000 people at one site, testing the ability of health workers to administer mass vaccinations following a smallpox outbreak (see GSN, Nov. 19).  The Arkansas workers had to screen patients, identify those with symptoms and dispense medicine appropriately (Edward Perez, Associated Press, Nov. 22).

In Arizona, state health officials delivered six tons of mock medical supplies to aid 1,000 mock victims of a terrorist attack.

The exercise, which began Wednesday, involved a simulated attack with sprayed artificial anthrax and a simulated outbreak of anthrax symptoms around Phoenix.  The Tucson Metropolitan Medical Response System, which is intended to distribute medicine in the event of a chemical or biological attack, coordinated the response.

Arizona Governor Jane Hull practiced requesting an emergency package from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Pharmaceutical Stockpile.  Officials stored the package, which arrived Thursday, at an emergency warehouse built by the Arizona Air National Guard.  The state Department of Public Safety provided security for the supplies.

Pharmacists and other health workers evaluated some residents of the nearby city of Mesa who also pretended to be infected with anthrax.

U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, who observed the exercise, was due to assess the response later today (Arthur Rotstein, Associated Press, Nov. 22).

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