Health Pow Wow
By: Import User
Updated: January 7, 2009
Local health and emergency officials combine their efforts to fight threats of anthrax. Members of area hospitals and law enforcement agencies say they are prepared to handle these threats. Health officials and members of law enforcement say not to worry about contracting anthrax here in the Four States. Joplin Police Chief Ed Dennis says several reports of suspicious powdery substances have come into his department. Each threat is taken seriously. The police hand the powder over to local hospitals where tests are run to make sure it isn`t anthrax and so far, nothing has turned up positive. McCune Brooks in Carthage is the only hospital in the area to conduct these tests so far. Joplin Police Chief Ed Dennis gives instructions for people who have suspicious packages or mail. Hospital officials want to stress the importance of not bringing suspicious materials into the hospital. Doing so will cause the emergency room to be shut down. They also say the most important thing for people to remember is not to panic.
