Can Central New York be ‘vaccinated’ against panic in the face of bioterrorism?

Can Central New York be ‘vaccinated’ against panic in the face of bioterrorism?November 08, 2002Kevin Morrowkdmorrow@syr.edu

Monicha Schoch-Spana, senior fellow at Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Biodefense Studies, will give the presentation “Bioterrorism: What Do We Tell the Public?” Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. in Grant Auditorium.

The focus of her talk is whether the Central New York region can be “vaccinated” against panic in the event of a bioterrorism attack.

Schoch-Spana is co-author of “Bioterrorism and the People: How to Vaccinate a City Against Panic,” published in Clinical Infectious Diseases (November 2001). The article summarizes research showing how populations respond to natural and technological disasters, and concludes that panic is rare and preventable. Schoch-Spana has also studied the influenza pandemic of 1918 for insights about steps that should be taken in the event of a bioterrorism attack.

Her visit is sponsored by the Campbell Public Affairs Institute, the College of Human Services and Health Professions, the Program for the Analysis and Resolution of Conflicts, the Newhouse School, Hendricks Chapel and University College.