Contact: Mary Anderson, 240-777-6530
For Immediate Release: October 18, 2001

Duncan Announces County
Bioterrorism Information Line;
Health Risk Assessment Center
To Open

County Executive Douglas M. Duncan announced today that the County is taking several steps to help alleviate public concerns about bioterrorism, including the establishment of a round-the-clock information hotline to address citizen concerns. Taped information about anthrax and other biological agents will be available 24-hours-a-day, seven days a week and a staff of emergency medical and public health professionals will be available to speak directly to callers each day between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. The telephone number is 240-777-4200.

“Just as we have made security adjustments and taken steps to respond to our changing economic climate, so too must we make refinements in the area of public health,” said Duncan. “Like many jurisdictions, Montgomery County’s hospitals, public health agency and emergency response operations are beginning to be overwhelmed by calls and visits from an understandably concerned public.”

Public health officials report that they are receiving between 300 and 400 calls a day about anthrax and other biological agents, and hospitals and private physicians have also reported a significant increase in the number of calls and emergency room visits related to bioterrorism concerns.

Joining Duncan at the announcement were Kevin J. Sexton, president and chief executive officer of Holy Cross Health; Peter Monge, president of Montgomery General Hospital; Mary McKenna, RN, vice president and chief nurse executive of Shady Grove Adventist Hospital; William F. Minogue, MD, interim president and chief executive officer of Suburban Hospital; Geoff Morgan, vice president for clinical services at Washington Adventist Hospital; and Mark Seigel, MD, president of the Montgomery County Medical Society. Also on hand were Lynn Frank, chief of public health services in the County’s Department of Health and Human Services; Gordon Aoyagi, fire administrator for Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services and Charles Moose, chief of the Montgomery County Police.

In addition to the bioterrorism information line, Duncan announced that the County would open a health risk assessment center on Tuesday, October 23, to provide counseling and education on a walk-in basis for Montgomery County citizens concerned about anthrax and other biological agents. A health risk assessment will determine if further medical attention is needed.

“It is our hope that people who have questions – or who believe that they may have come in contact with a biological agent will call the bioterrorism hotline or visit the Health Risk Assessment Center instead of calling 911,” said Duncan. “This assessment center is designed to screen non-emergency patients, provide information and consultations, and make appropriate referrals.”

The Health Risk Assessment Center will be open weekdays from 12 noon to 7 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Center is located at the Dennis Avenue Health Center, 2000 Dennis Avenue in Silver Spring.