Funding the public health response to terrorism

doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7516.526

BMJ 2005;331:526-527 (10 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.331.7516.526

Editorial

Funding the public health response to terrorism

Has cut funds for common chronic diseases—and for disasterrelief in New Orleans

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

On 11 September 2001, 3400 people died because of four horrific,intentional plane crashes. These individuals' only unifyingcharacteristic was that they were in the wrong place in Americaat the wrong time. Their deaths, and those of Londoners killedon 7 July 2005, highlighted our vulnerability to terrorism andlaunched an avalanche of repercussions.

As a response to these deaths, several subsequent deaths fromanthrax, and other current and potential terrorist threats,the US government redefined and redirected its role in fundingfor public health. Governments must protect their citizens,and anticipating these possible future threats is appropriateand could prove essential to Americans' health. However, thereis also an immediate and real threat that because of the USgovernment's policy, enormous numbers of Americans will dieunnecessarily. This threat is the redirection of funds awayfrom basic, currently necessary public health services towardspreventing potential bioterrorism in . . . [Full text of this article]