| Home > Resources > Leadership > Executive Summary > Case Studies Case Study 2001, New York City Health Officials Earn Public Trust In the earliest hours following the first diagnosis of inhalation anthrax in New York City, local officials understood that timely and candid communication with the public would be essential to managing the crisis successfully. Confirmation of the anthrax case was received in late evening, around 10:00 pm, but many questions were still unanswered—including how the victim contracted anthrax and whether anyone else was ill. Despite the late hour, leaders were forthcoming about what they knew and what they did not yet know. The mayor and his top health officials convened the first press conference at approximately 11:30 that night, and they provided a public hotline so community members could have access to information about anthrax and unfolding events. Convening this press conference at the onset of the incident helped set the tone for how the emergency would be handled: Leaders would be the ones to provide information to community members. Moreover, getting the word out at the earliest point in the crisis helped minimize the chance for speculation and the spread of misinformation the following day. Reference Mullin, Sandra. (2003). "New York City's Communication Trials by Fire, from West Nile to SARS." Biosecurity and Bioterrorism 1(4): 267-272. |
