ADVISORY/HHS Secretary Thompson to Speak on Global Bioterrorism Preparedness At Historic G20 Health Ministers Meeting, Davos, Switzerland, January 26th.

Assignment Desks/Health/Medical Writers

ADVISORY...for Sunday (Jan. 26)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

U.S. Health and Human Services Department Secretary Tommy G. Thompson will speak on the subject of "Bioterrorism Preparedness in An Era of Fear" at the first-ever meeting of health governors and ministers from the G20 countries, Sunday evening, January 26, 2003, at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

Thompson will discuss:

-- The imperative of combating the fear of bioterrorism and economic costs stemming from fear, with preparedness efforts aimed specifically at defusing or curtailing damage before it occurs.

-- How the new, $3.5 million Command Center at HHS provides instant communication links for the first time, nationally and internationally to other countries and the World Health Organization, to combat global health problems/diseases;

-- How the agency has worked successfully in 2002 to strengthen local and state health organization capabilities and bolster preparedness (with long-term potential for international benefit) to prevent against and combat health problems, epidemics and bio-terrorism incidents;

-- HHS messages aimed at encouraging cooperative action by assembled G20 health officials and world business leaders to help prevent bio-terrorism attacks; and

-- Details of recent U.S. action to strengthen an international funding model by $1.1 billion, to assist in halting the spread of AIDS and finding a cure for this and other major world health problems.