WASHINGTON – U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson has approved the majority of Maine’s comprehensive plan to combat bioterrorism, allocating more than $6.8 million for Maine, and allowing the state to move forward with plans to prepare for and prevent public health emergencies relating to potential future attacks.

“As our state and nation continue to respond to threats of biological or chemical attacks, community preparedness must be our first line of defense,” said Sen. Olympia Snowe, who co-sponsored the bioterrorism legislation that provides the funding. “Up until now, communities and the state have not had the resources to sustain a long-term battle against bioterrorism.”

In a joint release with Snowe, fellow Republican Sen. Susan Collins said, “We live in a new era, where unfortunately, our communities must be prepared for the worst. As we learned on September 11th and with the subsequent anthrax mailings, what used to be the unthinkable no longer is. Federal funding for state and local bioterrorism is an example of intergovernmental cooperation at its best.”

In addition to the $6,810,988 in funding released Thursday, Maine will receive $54,800 more from HHS after the state provides additional information required for its public health preparedness plan. After Thursday’s announcement and the pending additional assistance, Maine’s total amount awarded through bioterrorism preparedness grants will be $8,582,235, of which 20 percent – $743,913 – was released in March.

Funding specifically will be used for plan development and to upgrade infectious disease surveillance and investigations; to enhance the readiness of hospital systems to deal with large numbers of casualties; to expand public health laboratory and communications capacities; and to improve connectivity between hospitals, and city, local, and state health departments to enhance disease reporting.

The approval marks the first time that federal, state, and local governments have created a unified plan for responding to public health emergencies resulting from terrorism.