MHE507 - Bio-Terrorism Module 4 - Case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

MHE507 - Bio-Terrorism Module 4 - Case - Essay Example edness has increased comparatively from the pre-9/11 period, the present state of preparedness of the public health system is such that it would not be able to cope with a catastrophe, like a bio-terrorist attack, were it to happen today (Barclay 2009). This gap in bioterrorism preparedness is underpinned by less than adequate political and economic support to the public health system. The 9/11 incident gave birth to frantic legislative activities that mainly broached, unsurprisingly, on terrorism prevention and preparedness. The Bush administration saw the enactment of the following: updated Title 18 of the US Code; the Department of Defense and Emergency Supplemental Appropriation for Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States Act in January 2002 which allotted $2.9 B to HHS for bioterrorism preparedness; the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (the Bioterrorism Act) which increased the country’s capability to prevent, prepare for and meet bioterrorism (Center for Biosecurity of UPMC 2009), and; the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act in 2006 which strengthened public health infrastructure. In 2001, the Model State Emergency Health Powers Act (MSHEPA), a modern public health emergency preparedness prototype that can serve as template for state bioterrorism and other contingencies la ws, was drafted. It authorizes, among others, state and local public health agencies during catastrophic events with emergency powers. Under this model, adopted by more than 35 states, emergency powers may suspend temporarily rules and regulations that interfere with swift and effective interjurisdictional coordination or legal requirements in State business that hamper or delay rapid responses to emergencies (Roberts et al 2007). As can be gleaned, the 9/11 incident has spawned more than adequate legislative authority to combat and prevent bioterrorism. On the other hand, economic funding for