PORTLAND - Maine is less prepared than many states in planning for bioterrorism, bird flu and other public health emergencies, according to a report by the group Trust for America´s Health.

The report found that overall emergency health preparedness remains inadequate in America five years after the Sept. 11 and anthrax tragedies.

"We continue to make progress each year, but it is limited. As a whole, Americans face unnecessary and unacceptable levels of risk," said Jeff Levi, the group´s executive director.

The only state to meet all 10 goals on Tuesday´s report was Oklahoma. Maine was among eight states that got five out of 10 goals. New Hampshire achieved seven out of 10 goals, and Vermont achieved six out of 10 goals.

Maine was among 40 states that lost points for failing to have enough nurses and six states that failed to maintain level funding for public health services, the report said.

Maine also failed to meet goals for giving immunizations to adults 65 and older for flu and pneumonia vaccination, and it failed to achieve "green" status for delivery of the strategic national stockpile.

Dr. Dora Anne Mills, Maine´s top health officer, questioned some of the specific findings but said the state is moving forward.

For example, she said the funding for public health services didn´t take into account $50 million from the tobacco settlement. She also said the state has made great strides in the last six months in bolstering its stockpile.

"We´re making progress," she said Wednesday. "We´re heading in the right direction."

All told, 38 states finished ahead of Maine. California, Iowa, Maryland and New Jersey were at the bottom, meeting only four of 10 goals.

The report was supported by grants from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Bauman Foundation.