The physician must be in contact with the local public health infrastructure as soon as a potential biological agent is perceived as possible. Most states are now setting up contingency plans and means to address these issues in a systematic way. This involves using local health departments, police departments, fire departments, National Guard units, and federal agencies such as the CDC and the FBI. The key component, however, is actually identifying a biological agent in the community and then moving quickly to isolate those who may be at risk of spreading the infection.