CDC builds bioterror monitoring system

Atlanta-The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is developing a network that tracks illnesses to prepare for potential bioterror attacks.

The computerized system will gather broad data on visits to the veterinarian,doctors and emergency rooms, drugstore sales and calls to poison controlcenters in major U.S. cities.

Daily medical reports on everything from fevers to rashes would be inputtedinto central computers to compare to normal seasonal, daily and regionalfluctuations in known illnesses.

CDC says the system will enable officials to find out quickly if a suddensurge in illness could be linked to a bioterror attack.

"We are going to be actively investigating ways of tapping the informationthat is already electronically available," says David Fleming, CDC'sdeputy director for public health science.

The network reportedly has built-in benefits beyond bioterror attacks.

"Even if there is never another bioterror incident, this systemwill help us with the day-to-day business of responding to traditional diseases,"Fleming says.

The initial effort is expected to be concentrated in eight or 10 cities.