An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure: improving communication to reduce mortality during bioterrorism responses.

Objective: To identify communication needs and evaluate the effectiveness of alternative communication strategies for bioterrorism responses.

Methods: We provide a framework for evaluating communication needs during a bioterrorism response. Then, using a simulation model of a hypothetical response to anthrax bioterrorism in a large metropolitan area, we evaluate the costs and benefits of alternative strategies for communication during a response.