Purdue News

April 17, 2003 WBAA to air show on bioterrorism WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A live two-hour public radio show on the threat of bioterrorism will be broadcast on WBAA AM-920 and other public radio stations from 2-4 p.m. Friday, April 25. The show, entitled "The Bioterrorism Threat: Indiana Responds," will outline the dangers in Indiana of nuclear, biological and chemical warfare and provide listeners with the kind of information they need to know in the event of an attack. WBAA manager Dan Skinner says listeners are encouraged to phone in their questions to the experts participating in the show by calling (800) 646-1812 or e-mailing ipr@bsu.edu. "Until now the subject of nuclear, biological or chemical warfare was only broached in a good science fiction novel or in an action-packed Hollywood motion picture," Skinner says. "But today, in a post 9-11 world, the threat of bioterrorism is a harsh reality with which many Americans are quickly trying to come to terms." Indiana State Health Commissioner Greg Wilson says state officials are working to train public health workers to provide a coordinated response in the event of a biological attack. "After September 11th, new priorities and challenges have tested the public health system in ways we never conceived," Wilson says. "We believe that strengthening the public health infrastructure – which has been neglected throughout the nation for decades – is the best way to improve our response to bioterrorism." "The Bioterrorism Threat: Indiana Responds" is being produced in partnership with the Indiana State Department of Health through a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CONTACT: Skinner, (765) 494-3960, deskinner@purdue.edu. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page