Terror Threat – Author Explores The Risks in Medical Thriller – SledgehammerLos Angeles, CA, (July 2007) Dr. Paulo Reyes knows firsthand about life in the emergency room. Born in San Joaquin Valley, he’s a practicing Emergency Room doctor in Los Angeles with 25 years experience in ER medicine and internal medicine and a first responder for the busiest cities in California. That’s why when Reyes decided to write a book about a smallpox threat in a California ER, it was a natural fit.

The book, Sledgehammer (ISBN #097713870-4) is a gripping medical thriller about a terrorist who comes into a Los Angeles ER with symptoms of smallpox. Plans are for terrorists to spread the particularly aggressive form of smallpox, Sledgehammer Smallpox, into several sports arenas, airports and shopping malls to maximize its deadly effects.

In Sledgehammer, an intuitive ER physician, suspects the bioterrorism plot but is faced with convincing the hospital administration and the public health care system about the presence of this deadly disease and the need to vaccinate the American public. It’s a page turning, “stay-up-all-night and finish itâ€� book that has received numerous 5 star reviews including those from Midwest Review, Heartland Review and American Reporter. In fact, Joe Shea of the American Reporter states, “Sledgehammer” is a gripping, powerful portrait of an American emergency room physician encountering the “index” case of a national bioterrorist attack by Islamic terrorists-It is probably the best bio-warfare thriller of the dozen-odd I’ve read in the past 10 years.â€�

In reality, how big a threat is smallpox? Dr. Reyes believes their exists a real danger today, especially with the rising attacks in London and the constant fear of biochemical threats from terrorists. The main question is “Are we ready?�

Dr. Reyes has also authored Health-Care Reform or Redistribution of Cost? and has participated in various disaster relief efforts in California including the Mexicana crash in 1986, the last major earthquake in L.A. in 1994 and the influenza epidemic 1997-1998.

Dr. Reyes is available for interviews by contacting Diana at diana@pauloreyes.com or (954) 971-4025. Also, stop by Reyes’ website at http://www.pauloreyes.com for additional information or to order Sledgehammer, which is also available at Amazon and other leading bookstores.