State preparedness for bioterrorism and public health emergencies.

The nation's ability to prepare for and respond to an infectious disease or bioterrorist attack rests largely in states' public health systems. Early federal efforts to provide funding to help states and localities build their infrastructure have led to a great deal of activity in this area. Evaluations of progress in preparedness show both successes and shortcomings, and assessments of whether or not the nation is prepared vary depending on benchmarks used and perspectives on spending priorities. Future assessments will be needed for continuous monitoring of improvements and challenges.