Big cities are well trained and well equipped to deal with mysterious substances. But these days, almost nothing is routine. The emergency response was monitored by the Health and Human Services bioterrorism situation room. To end fears that swept the city, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson announced that the substance appeared to be harmless and the incident was not a terrorist attack. Such episodes are likely to be repeated across the nation in coming days, emergency room doctors say, as fear fuels both odd behavior and unusually aggressive reactions.
People are jumpy, and they have a right to be jumpy.
But it's time for a coordinated health response. That coordinated health response is where the true test of the nation's preparedness is underway. In the big cities, the first responders, emergency rooms and the county health departments have been practicing for today's biological threat for years. The dress rehearsal began after last month's attacks. Hospitals have tapped into the CDC's Web site and downloaded information for lab technicians.