Global Security Newswire

The New York City Health Department on Saturday conducted an exercise to test its ability to pre-empt widespread illness in the event of a large-scale anthrax attack, the Associated Press reported (see GSN, Aug. 11).

The exercise simulated a medical response to the dispersal of airborne anthrax particles. City officials operated a medical station to quickly administer preventive antibiotics to as many people as possible in order to limit casualties. City employees and volunteers posed as civilians seeking medicine.

"This is aimed at getting medication to a large number of people as quickly as possible," said New York City Health Commissioner Thomas Farley.

In the event of a real anthrax incident, the city would set up about 200 such "points of dispensing," each staffed by about 100 people who would distribute medicine from stockpiles stored in laboratories and warehouses around the city (Verena Dobnik, Associated Press/101wins.com, Aug. 16).