Security funding boosts public health programs

Federal funding to fight the threat of bioterrorism will impact public health departments statewide in
coming months, a Gallatin County official said Wednesday.

By the AP The IR

(What Montana companies can participate in this development?- Russ)

“Following the anthrax events in October and November, it was glaringly apparent to Congress … the lack of funding for
public health in the United States,” said Stephanie Nelson, public health officer for the county. “They allocated $1.1 billion
to be distributed across the United States.”

Montana is getting about $7 million to update public health systems, part of homeland security efforts.
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services must submit a plan to the Centers for Disease Control in
Atlanta and the Health Resources and Services Administration by May 15, said Maggie Bullock, administrator of DPHHS’s
health policy and services division.

“We actually have been given the grant award,” she said. “We cannot spend it until this work plan is in the federal government
and has been approved.”

The plan focuses on six areas: planning and assessment; surveillance and epidemiology; laboratory capacities;
communication between public health departments; communication of risks to the public; and education and training, Nelson
said.

“The biggest component is for an overall public health disaster plan,” said Ken Pekoc, a spokesman for the state health
department. “The public will be hearing more about this plan in the coming months because there is an education
component to it.”

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