How is bioterrorism treated?
Wash yourself with soap and water and put on clean clothes. Contact authorities and seek medical assistance. You may be advised to stay away from others or even to quarantine. If your symptoms match those described and you are in the group considered at risk, immediately seek emergency medical attention.
How do you treat biological weapons?
People are given vaccines, antibiotics, or antiviral drugs depending on the specific infectious organism involved. Sometimes people who have been in contact with the affected people are given preventive treatment. For many biological weapons, there is no specific treatment or vaccine.
Which agents are most commonly used in bioterrorism?
Agents/DiseasesAnthrax (Bacillus anthracis)Botulism (Clostridium botulinum toxin)Plague (Yersinia pestis)Smallpox (variola major)Tularemia (Francisella tularensis)Viral hemorrhagic fevers, including. Filoviruses (Ebola, Marburg) Arenaviruses (Lassa, Machupo)
How can we prevent biological warfare?
Available protective equipment include respiratory protective devices, full face protective masks and surgical masks for respiratory protection, battle dress overgarments, protective gloves and overboots for skin protection. Full protection is needed when the agent has not been identified.
How do you survive chemical and biological weapons?
1:454:26How to Survive- Biological or Chemical Attack - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo move crosswind to minimize exposure. Moving downwind exposes you to the gas longer whileMoreSo move crosswind to minimize exposure. Moving downwind exposes you to the gas longer while traveling upwind puts you face-to-face with a dense cloud.
How can we prevent using chemical weapons?
Prevention. Key to preventing chemical terrorism is ensuring that terrorists cannot easily access the chemicals they seek. The Chemical Weapons Convention requires its States Parties to “adopt the necessary measures” to ensure that toxic chemicals and their precursors are only used for non-prohibited purposes.
Which biological agent of terrorism is treated with antitoxin?
Treatment: Supportive and antitoxin for severe symptoms. Biologic Warfare: The neurotoxin Botulinum is one of the deadliest toxins. It is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Passive immunity with human hyperimmune globulin or equine botulinum antitoxin, and endogenous immunity with botulinum toxoid.
Why is anthrax a good choice for bioterrorism?
Anthrax is one of the most likely agents to be used because: Anthrax spores are easily found in nature, can be produced in a lab, and can last for a long time in the environment. Anthrax makes a good weapon because it can be released quietly and without anyone knowing.
What is the most effective way to disperse biological agents?
A line source technique is the most effective dispersal means for biological agents. For example, this may involve a truck or air sprayer moving perpendicular to the wind during an inversion (when air temperature increases with altitude and holds surface air and pollutants down).
What mask protects from chemical and biological agents?
Particulate Respirators The commonly known “N-95” filtering facepiece respirator is one type of particulate respirator, often used in hospital to protect against infectious agents.
Which of the following are considered necessary preventative measures to stay safe from biological agents?
Preventive measures include: Safe handling of infectious specimens, sharps waste, contaminated linen and other material. Safe handling and cleaning of blood spills and other body fluids. Adequate protective equipment, gloves, clothing, glasses. Appropriate hygienic measures.
How is smallpox used in bioterrorism?
No one has gotten smallpox naturally since 1977. However, it is possible that variola virus (the virus that causes smallpox) could be used in a biological attack (an intentional release of viruses, bacteria, or other germs that can sicken or kill people, livestock, or crops).
What is bioterrorism?
Bioterrorism is a form of terrorism where there is the intentional release of biological agents (bacteria, viruses, or other germs). This is also referred to as germ warfare. Terrorism is defined by the United States government as the "unlawful use of force and violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, ...
What are the potential clues for bioterrorism?
Other potential clues that raise suspicion for a bioterrorism attack include new types of antibiotic resistance in bacteria, because some biologic agents are modified (weaponized) to make them more lethal, unusual numbers of cases of a disease, and atypical presentation of diseases.
How many people were infected with anthrax in 2001?
already experienced a bioterrorism attack. In 2001, powder containing the bacterium called anthrax was distributed through the U.S. mail. All together, 22 people became infected with anthrax.
What are the symptoms of bioterrorism?
Many of the agents cause a " flu-like " illness. These symptoms would include fever, cough, nausea, vomiting, and headache.
Which is the most dangerous and most likely to be used in bioterrorism?
The one that is most dangerous and most likely to be used in bioterrorism is Clostridium botulinum toxin, which causes botulism.
What is the first step in bioterrorism?
If there has been a bioterrorism attack, the first important step is to get information immediately from the news media as to the right course of action. For some terrorist attacks, it may be correct to try and leave the area; however, for other events, it may be more appropriate to shelter in place.
What are the events that might suggest an attack?
Events that might suggest an attack include a large number of ill or dead people in a small geographic area, multiple dead animals of different species, and patients with multiple different diseases, indicating a mixed attack.
How many spores of B. anthracis are there in humans?
In primates, the LD50 (i.e., the dose required to kill 50% of animals) for an aerosol challenge with B. anthracis is estimated to be 8,000–50,000 spores; the infectious dose may be as low as 1-3 spores. Incubation Period.
What are the protective measures used to prevent the spread of the Pneumonic Plague?
Simple protective measures, such as wearing masks, good hygiene, and avoiding close contact , have been effective to interrupt transmission during many pneumonic plague outbreaks [2]. In the United States, the last known cases of person to person transmission of pneumonic plague occurred in 1925 [2]. Table 3D.
What is bioterrorism?
Bioterrorism involves the deliberate release of bioweapons to cause death or disease in humans, animals, or plants. These biological agents can include bacteria, viruses, toxins, or fungi. [2] Biological weapons may be developed or used as part of a government policy in biological warfare or by terrorist groups or criminals.
What is bioterrorism education?
Continuing Education Activity. Bioterrorism involves the deliberate release of bioweapons to cause death or disease in humans, animals, or plants. Biological weapons may be developed or used as part of a government policy in biological warfare or by terrorist groups or criminals. Biological weapons can initiate large-scale epidemics ...
What is biological weapon?
Biological weapons are devices or agents used or intended to be used in a deliberate attempt to disseminate disease-producing organisms or toxins using aerosol, food, water, or insect vectors. Their mechanism of action tends to be broadly through infection or intoxication. [1] . Bioterrorism involves the deliberate release ...
How long should you be on anthrax treatment?
In the event of inhalation exposure, should undergo prophylactic treatment for 60 days, regardless of vaccination. A combination of doxycycline and ciprofloxacin is the recommended first-line therapy in post-exposure prophylaxis.
What is the highest priority category for biological weapons?
Function. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have classified biological weapons into three categories based on various factors, including the morbidity and mortality caused by the disease in humans: [2] Category A: Highest priority. Pose a risk to national security.
When did Germany stop using biological weapons?
However, following these allegations, keeping in mind the horrific and unpredictable nature of these agents, the Geneva Protocol was signed in 1925, which prohibited the development, production, and use of Biological weapons in war.
Do terrorists use biological weapons?
Despite this drawback, terrorist organizations favor the use of biological weapons. [2] Healthcare professionals need to be aware of the essentials of bioterrorism and biological weapons, as these may be used as part of a terrorist attack in any part of the world.
