Anti-bioterror $$ going to U.

The anthrax letters following Sept. 11 pointed out a vulnerability in the American health system: inadequate ability to diagnose, treat or vaccinate against infectious disease outbreaks, whether natural or caused by bioterrorism.

That's changing as federal emphasis is shifting to emergency preparedness and improved education.

As part of that, the University of Utah will receive at least $2.5 million of a $40 million grant to a six-state program created to find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat emerging infectious diseases and fight bioterrorism, it was announced Wednesday.

• $1.29 million to study human susceptibility to West Nile virus and determine its genetic basis.

• $594,163 to train infectious disease physicians, with emphasis on potential bioterrorism.

• $235,261 aimed at health practitioners, emergency responders and the public, including rural physicians who might be the first to spot an infectious disease outbreak.

• $187,635 for research into products to prevent, diagnose and treat infectious disease.

• $187,635 to coordinate the regional examination of preparedness for bioterrorism or outbreak.