CDC Director Says Better Tests Are Needed to Stop Outbreaks

[rodbarnett]

ATLANTA (AP) - Doctors in the United States are "woefully underprepared" to recognize the start of a disease outbreak or a release of toxic chemicals, the chief of the CDC said Monday.

Better diagnostic tests are needed to help doctors detect unusual diseases and substances in time to stop major outbreaks, said Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Gerberding spoke at the start of the International Conference on Biomarkers for Toxicology and Molecular Epidemiology, which examines the latest in biosensors and other technologies for detecting dangerous substances.

"We need much more capability to rapidly diagnose exposure to these emerging threats," Gerberding said.

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