Public health preparedness and response in the USA since 9/11: a national health security imperative.

The terrorist attacks on Sept 11, 2001 (9/11) uncovered weaknesses in the US national public health infrastructure. Response e orts did not have the integrated communications and uni ed command needed for a large-scale response, and information crucial for decision making was not shared among agencies.1 First responders were poorly trained and equipment for their roles was inadequate; according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), high rates of respiratory illness in rescue workers in New York City 1 year after the attacks could be linked to inadequate use of personal protective equipment.2