Nationwide concern about biological attacks mounted last week after several people were exposed to anthrax in New York and Florida, but Centre Community Hospital has had a plan for biological attacks for the past two years.

Besides anthrax, the plan covers botulism, plague and smallpox, said nurse Marlene Stetson, the hospital's infection control coordinator.

The plan details what actions the hospital's staff should take if one of these agents is the suspected cause of illness.

The plan helps doctors and nurses diagnose these illnesses by explaining their symptoms. Hospital staff also can consult the plan to find out about communicability and if the patient needs to be isolated.

The plan also discusses disposal of infected bodies post-mortem.

The hospital's doctors and nurses have not received any specific training or education about diagnosing or treating biological attacks, but the staff does have information available to them on the hospital's Intranet and they will have the option of attending a lecture on the topic this week.

Stetson said the media's coverage of anthrax has been so extensive recently that the hospital does not need to provide its staff with more information. Stetson said a rapid increase of similar symptoms, especially respiratory or gastrointestinal complaints would cause concern.

An unusual pattern or time of year for certain symptoms also can signal a biological attack, Stetson said.

"Like cases of influenza in June, anything uncharacteristic will make us concerned," Stetson added.

Brian Valerio (senior-environmental resource management), who researched biological warfare for an ecotoxicology course last spring, said hospitals should revise their emergency biological warfare plans to accommodate the current situation.

Amy Scaroni (senior-biology), who worked on the project with Valerio, said because symptoms in the early stages of anthrax are similar to influenza, hospitals should be testing patients for the disease.

Many Americans are eagerly looking for ways to protect themselves from biological attacks.

Gas masks are selling in excess of $300 on eBay (www.ebay.com), and the companies that produce masks for the military have waiting lists filled with civilians' names, according to CNN's Web site (www.cnn.com).

Though the anthrax vaccine is mandatory for all U.S. military active- and reserve-duty personnel, it is not available to the public. Stetson said it could be made available if necessary.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site says that antibiotic treatment can prevent infection in people exposed to anthrax.

In a letter on the Web site, the center's director, Dr. Jeffrey P. Koplan, wrote that the center has enough antibiotics to prevent anthrax in two million people.

"We could rapidly get preventive medicine to those who may be affected by this disease," Koplan said.

Agreeing with many experts, Stetson said there is not much that people can do to protect themselves from exposure besides receiving the vaccine.

"Unless you are going to walk around with a respirator, there is not anything you can do," Valerio said.