State’s top Doc testifies in Washington about bioterrorism

One of Iowa’s top health officials is scheduled to testify before a Congressional panel today.State epidemiologist Dr. Patricia Quinlisk has worked for years on plans for combating and responding to a bioterrorist attack. She’ll be testifying before the House Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans Affairs and International Relations.Dr. Quinlisk says there needs to be a focus, not only on human diseases resulting from bioterrorism, but on animal and plant disease, which could inflict severe economic damage on an agricultural state like Iowa. She says it’s best to be prepared for the worst.Quinlisk says there needs to be continued federal support at the state and local level to be prepared for any sort of bioterrorist event.