Virtual Library Presentation
February 14, 2001 - 12:00 Noon Eastern

Public Health Preparedness for Bioterrorism

Kim McCoy, MPH
Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Program
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

SUMMARY

EIIP Virtual Library Presentation
Wednesday - February 14, 2001 - 12:00 Noon EST

Public Health Preparedness for Bioterrorism

Kim McCoy
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)

Amy Sebring
EIIP Technical Projects Coordinator

The EIIP Virtual Library featured a discussion by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on their mandate in the area of bioterrorism as it relates to public health preparedness. The guest speaker was Kim McCoy, Program Analyst in the Management and Operations Section of the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Program at CDC. The office is charged with enhancing CDC's capacities to assist States and other partners in responding to bioterrorism. Ms. McCoy provided information about the national public health initiative to prepare for bioterrorism and described the threat and potential implications of bioterrorism.

In 1998 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to lead the national effort to prepare public health and health care systems to respond to the threat of biological and chemical terrorism. This multi-faceted and complex effort was initiated via the establishment of the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Program (BPRP) at CDC in January 1999. Though BPRP is housed within the National Center for Infectious Diseases, the overall effort is conducted in partnership with the National Center for Environmental Health, the Epidemiology Program Office, the Public Health Practice Program Office, and the Office of Health and Safety.

KIM McCOY, MPH
Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Program
National Center for Infectious Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Ms. McCoy is a Program Analyst in the Management and Operations Section of the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Program at CDC. This is the office charged with enhancing CDC's capacities to assist States and other partners in responding to bioterrorism. Ms. McCoy works with federal, state and local public health professionals to develop budget and policy initiatives related to bioterrorism preparedness. She also works closely with state health departments to implement activities of the cooperative agreement program on Public Health Preparedness and Response for Bioterrorism.

Ms. McCoy holds a Masters of Public Health degree in Public Health Administration from the University of Minnesota. She has been with the CDC for approximately 4 years and began her CDC career in the Office of the Director at NCID as a Program Analyst in the Emerging Infectious Diseases program. Before coming to CDC, Ms. McCoy worked for the Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program at the Minnesota Department of Health where she assisted in the collection and analysis of data regarding cancer screening among low-income women.

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