In December 1984, an explosion at a chemical plant in Bhopal, India caused an extremely toxic substance to be released into the air in an area surrounding the plant a densely populated part of the city. Within 24 hours of the attack over 5,000 people had sought medical attention. By the end of the crisis almost a thousand people were identified as experiencing some health effects and 12 people died. In the end, it was only the inefficiency of the mechanism used to disperse the chemical agent that prevented casualties from being far worse. The reason I have chosen to cite these two examples today is to point out the variability of the types of chemical emergencies that have occurred elsewhere and that could occur in the United States.
Terrorism is a community problem.
Health decisions for the community in response to a terrorist event require the involvement of public health professionals from the local, state, and Federal levels. State and local public health officials will be among the first to respond to any chemical weapon attack, long before any Federal units are on the scene. It is these local public health professionals with whom CDC has had a long-term relationship. It is CDC that State and local officials call upon for help and advice in any kind of public health emergency. And, it is the State and local public health professionals who work along side the local police, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel and who have the greatest impact on the health and safety of people in affected areas.