Agents of bioterrorism. Preparing for bioterrorism at the community health care level.

Bioterrorism preparedness is clearly a goal for the health care community, working in concert with city, county, state, and federal public health and emergency authorities and in collaboration with law enforcement at the local and federal levels. Opening the channels of communication between all groups involved, obtaining the necessary resources, and maintaining an understanding of the potential agents and the diseases they cause will foster a smooth transition to a rational program directed at patient, personnel, and community safety.