A population survey--would Australian general practice be the first point of contact during an anthrax bioterrorism event?
BACKGROUND
Anthrax bioterrorism is a new threat to Australians. How they would respond to an anthrax bioterrorism event is unknown.


METHODS
A national telephone survey of Australian adults.


RESULTS
We successfully interviewed 1001 Australian adults (response rate 63%). The threat of anthrax bioterrorism was of medium to high concern to 57% of survey participants. In the event of an anthrax bioterrorism event, the first point of care would be GPs for 60% of survey participants, and 71% were confident in their doctor's ability to recognise anthrax. Most would accept vaccination if anthrax bioterrorism cases were reported locally, or even elsewhere in Australia.


CONCLUSIONS
Australian GPs should be included in any bioterrorism planning to respond to such threats.
Durrheim
David N
DN
Hunter New England Population Health, Newcastle University, New South Wales and James Cook University, Queensland. david.durrheim@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au
Muller
Reinhold
R
Saunders
Vicki L
VL
Speare
Richard
R
Lowe
John B
JB
D000881:Anthrax; D001315:Australia; D023482:Bioterrorism; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005194:Family Practice; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans