Mock anthrax attack today at YSU

YOUNGSTOWN — Nursing faculty and students and health clinic staff at Youngstown State University and representatives of the Mahoning County Health Department spent this morning responding to a mock anthrax attack on campus.

In today’s training exercise, the antibiotics, Ciprofloxacin and Doxycycline, represented by candy, were given to members of the university community to prevent them from getting sick.

In the mock disaster, the university was a “closed unit,” providing the antibiotics to university-affiliated people instead of having them wait in line at county-run open dispensing units.

Two nurses and the physician from the university health clinic, four nursing faculty members, and 93 junior level nursing students participated in the public health emergency training exercise at the university’s Cushwa Hall.

YSU police, who would provide security in the event of a real disaster medication distribution, were present.

The drill was designed to be “a learning experience for the students” and an exercise “in the planning of future disaster preparation for YSU,” said Molly Roche, clinical nursing instructor.

For the complete story, read Saturday's Vindicator and Vindy.com