WHAT: National Symposium on Medical and Public Health Response to Bioterrorism

WHERE: Crystal Gateway Marriott, 1700 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, Virginia

WHEN: February 16-17, 1999

SPONSORED BY: Johns Hopkins Center for Civilian Biodefense, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Infectious Diseases Society of America, American Society for Microbiology

WHY: An epidemic catastrophe resulting from a terrorist's use of a biological weapon is a threat of increasing probability in light of events including the 1995 sarin nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway, disclosures regarding the former Soviet Union's sophisticated bioweapons program, and recent discoveries of Iraq's large-scale efforts to produce and weaponize biological agents. The national medical and public health communities, as yet, have not been fully apprised of the threat and have so far been little involved in threat assessment or response planning for bioterrorism. The National Symposium on Medical and Public Health Response to Bioterrorism is an effort to create awareness among health professionals so that they can lend their expertise in developing informed measures against bioterrorism.

REPORTERS' NOTE: In anticipation of the high level of media interest in this symposium, as well as to receive forthcoming press materials, reporters are urged to register early to attend. To register, call Gary M. Stephenson at 410-955-5384 or e-mail him at [email protected].