Family Physicians Central to Bioterrorism Response

October 19, 2001

Minnesota family physicians would be among the first to recognize a bioterrorist attack, should it ever happen in this state.

“Because we care for families and communities as our foundation, we are uniquely situated to identify unusual patterns of illness.” said Keith Stelter, M.D., a Moose Lake physician and president of the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP).

Doctors are being urged to watch for things like an increasing disease incidence in a normally healthy population, an epidemic curve that rises and falls during a short time, an unusual increase in the number of people seeking care, a disease that rapidly emerges at an uncharacteristic time, and clusters of patients arriving from a single location.

“The public needs to know that family physicians in this state have an excellent working relationship with the Minnesota Department of Health,” Stelter said. “All measures are being taken to avoid a large scale bioterrorism threat.”

People are extremely concerned about such a threat, as evident by a recent family physician phone bank on a Minneapolis/St. Paul television station. A group of MAFP physicians answered more than 600 medical questions from KARE 11 viewers during several newscasts on Tuesday, October 16. At least one-third of those calls were related to the public’s concerns about biological terrorism.

“There is a definite fear out there,” said Glenn Nemec, M.D., a family physician from Monticello. “It’s something new to all of us, but it’s important to pass along the information we do know.”

Some of the most-asked questions were, how long do smallpox vaccinations last, how is anthrax contracted, what are its symptoms, and should I get antibiotics now in case of a future anthrax attack. The MAFP agrees with the Minnesota Department of Health that inappropriate use of antibiotics could actually do more harm than good.

“Getting and taking antibiotics for suspected anthrax is an unwise and potentially dangerous thing to do,” said Dr. Stelter. “Physicians in each community and the Department of Health need to know if there is a suspected case of anthrax. Getting a supply of antibiotics and using them without physician supervision could potentially endanger the health of the entire community because the early cases may not be recognized.” Also, overusing antibiotics could lead to antibiotic resistance of anthrax and other bacteria.

The bottom line - People need to remain calm and talk to their family doctor if they have any health concerns.

Along with Dr. Nemec and Dr. Stelter, family physicians participating in the phone bank were Mark Bixby, M.D., Minneapolis, Amy Bonifas, M.D., Brooklyn Center: Daniel Cohan, M.D., Robbinsdale; Kim Deroche, M.D., Minneapolis; Carrie Fenna, M.D., Minneapolis; Richard Gebhart, M.D., Maple Grove; Elaine Hirschfield, M.D., Minneapolis; Gerald Jensen, M.D., Shoreview; David Johnson, M.D., Monte Johnson, M.D., St. Louis Park; Eden Prairie; Kacey Justesen, M.D., Minneapolis; Patrick Kemper, M.D., St. Louis Park; Timothy Komoto, M.D., Mendota Heights; Todd Leonard, M.D., North St. Paul; Jean Lundgren, M.D., Richfield; Laurie McCleod, M.D., Minneapolis; Tara Olfert, M.D., Minneapolis; Jamie Peters, M.D., Minneapolis; James Rohde, M.D., Edina; Joel Sagedahl, M.D., Minneapolis; Thomas Scheider, M.D., Woodbury; Kirk Simpson, M.D., Bloomington; Lisa Spatz, M.D., Minneapolis; Jeremy Springer, M.D., St. Louis Park; Michael Stoesz, M.D., Shoreview; Kevin Wand, D.O., Bloomington; Jay Mitchell, M.D., St. Louis Park; Shara Pehl, M.D., St. Louis Park; Jennifer Welsh, M.D., Minneapolis; and James Zwach, M.D., St. Louis Park.

The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians is a professional association of approximately 2,700 family physicians, family medicine residents and medical students organized to assist family physicians in providing quality medical care in Minnesota. The MAFP is the largest medical specialty organization in Minnesota and is a state chapter of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with more than 93,000 members.