Bioterrorism Research Paper
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BIO 260
Dr. Paul Reese
Bioterrorism
Bioterrorism is terrorism involving the intentional release or dissemination of biological agents. These agents are bacteria, viruses, or toxins, and may be in a naturally- occurring or a human-modified form. A bioterrorism attack is the deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, toxins or other harmful agents used to cause illness or death in people, animals, or plants. These agents are typically found in nature, but it is possible that they could be mutated or altered to increase their ability to cause disease, make them resistant to current medicines, or to increase their ability to be spread into the environment. Biological agents can be spread through the air, water, or in food. Terrorists tend to use biological agents because they are extremely difficult to detect and do not cause illness for several hours to several days. Some bioterrorism agents, like the smallpox virus, can be spread from person to person and some, like anthrax, cannot. Biological agents are relatively easy to obtain by terrorists and are becoming more threatening in the U.S. Laboratories are working on advanced detection systems to provide early warning, identify contaminated areas and populations at risk, and to 2 facilitate prompt treatment. Methods for predicting the use of biological agents in urban areas as well as assessing the area for the hazards associated with a biological attack are being established in major cities. Early detection and rapid response to bioterrorism depend on close cooperation between public health authorities and law enforcement, however, such cooperation is currently lacking. National detection assets and vaccine stockpiles are not useful if local and state officials do not have access to them. In 1999, the
BIO 260
Dr. Paul Reese
Bioterrorism
Bioterrorism is terrorism involving the intentional release or dissemination of biological agents. These agents are bacteria, viruses, or toxins, and may be in a naturally- occurring or a human-modified form. A bioterrorism attack is the deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, toxins or other harmful agents used to cause illness or death in people, animals, or plants. These agents are typically found in nature, but it is possible that they could be mutated or altered to increase their ability to cause disease, make them resistant to current medicines, or to increase their ability to be spread into the environment. Biological agents can be spread through the air, water, or in food. Terrorists tend to use biological agents because they are extremely difficult to detect and do not cause illness for several hours to several days. Some bioterrorism agents, like the smallpox virus, can be spread from person to person and some, like anthrax, cannot. Biological agents are relatively easy to obtain by terrorists and are becoming more threatening in the U.S. Laboratories are working on advanced detection systems to provide early warning, identify contaminated areas and populations at risk, and to 2 facilitate prompt treatment. Methods for predicting the use of biological agents in urban areas as well as assessing the area for the hazards associated with a biological attack are being established in major cities. Early detection and rapid response to bioterrorism depend on close cooperation between public health authorities and law enforcement, however, such cooperation is currently lacking. National detection assets and vaccine stockpiles are not useful if local and state officials do not have access to them. In 1999, the
Cited: Hooker, MD, Dr. Edmond, (n.d.), Bioterrorism, http://www.medicinenet.com/bioterrorism/article.htm McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine, (2002), http://medical- dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/anthrax