"Europe Responds"

Introduction
In the textbook, students have read about the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and measures the nation has taken to respond to those attacks. A new threat in our changed world is the possibility of bioterrorist attacks. Students should be familiar with news reports regarding anthrax attacks, and the measures that Congress and the U.S. Postal Service have taken in response. Anthrax, however, is only one of the many potential bioterrorist agents. Another one discussed in news reports is smallpox.

Lesson Description
By reading the EU Website, students can learn about the wide range of EU strategies to respond to a bioterrorist attack. These include everything from increased training of doctors and pharmacists; to better warning systems; to planning for sharing costs and cooperating with international organizations. Many of the strategies will be carried out through existing networks of the EU, such as its communicable disease network (comparable to the CDC network in the United States).

Instructional Objectives:

1. Students will learn about the widespread nature of bioterrorism and how it could threaten the civilian population in a country.
2. By learning about the measures taken on bioterrorism, students can learn about how cooperation actually works in an international organization, such as the European Union; also, by learning about the remedies, students can have a more informed, rational and possibly reassuring debate about a frightening subject.

1. The EU Commission had its health ministers meet immediately and each nation appointed a senior representative to discuss preparedness measures.
2. The EU identified six ways that EU-wide action could be especially effective against bioterrorism:
   1. drawing on the pool of experts, such as epidemiologists and Information Technology to analyze the best response;
   2. reinforcing warning systems, rapid response capacities, analytic capacity and surveillance;
   3. developing clear, authoritative communication with the general public;
   4. increased training for the first line of alert: General Practitioners, veterinarians and pharmacists;
   5. planning for burden sharing of costly logistics like stockpiles and equipment;
   6. coordinating international cooperation with partner countries and organizations such as the World Health Organization and the Organisation [sic] for Economic Co-operation and Development.
3. The EU Health Ministers had three priorities: setting up a mechanism to consult health experts; planning on how to make stocks of serums, vaccines and antibiotics available; and, a European network of experts for evaluating, managing and communicating risks.
4. The Environment Committee receives updates on emergency preparedness.
5. Posters should be visual and dynamic. They should contain details of the four major efforts of the EU.