BIOTERRORISM
Bioterrorism is a type of warfare that makes use of biological agents or biological weapons to inflict harm to enemy. Biological weapons use toxins or chemicals produced by microorganisms, plant or animals. Infectious agents such as, virus, protozoan or fungi are intentionally used to inflict harm to others. These agents are invisible and microscopic, yet, deadly.
BIOLOGICAL WEAPON
A biological weapon is a combination of biological agents such as viruses, bacteria & their derivatives like toxins and the means of keeping the agents alive & virulent, transporting it to where it will be dispersed and a dissemination mechanism. Terrorists can get control of these weapons & can cause harm.
HISTORY
WHY USE BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS ?
BIOWEAPON-RELATED DISEASES :
BIOWEAPON related diseases includes some of the most dangerous diseases. The following are some examples:
anthrax • psittacosis • Q-fever • botulism • salmonellosis • brucellosis • shigellosis • cholera • smallpox • tularemia • food poisoning • typhoid fever • glanders • typhus • viral encephalitis • hemorrhagic fever • lassa fever • melioidosis • plague.
ADDITIONAL POTENTIAL BIOTERRORISM AGENTS :
• Chlamydia psittaci • • Cryptosporidium parvum • • Escherichia coli O157:H7 • • hantavirus • • Salmonella species • • Shigella species • • Vibrio cholerae.
TYPES OF BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS :
These bioterrorism agents can be separated into 3 categories depending on how easily they can be spread and the severity of illness or death they cause .
BIOTERRORISM AGENT CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM CDC :
The Centers for Disease Control (2004) have placed agents in one of three priority categories for initial public health preparedness efforts: A, B, or C. Agent
These are categorized as;
Catagory-A
Category-B
Catagory-C
These high priority agents include organisms or toxins that pose the highest risk to the public and national security because, They can be easily spread or transmitted from person to person. They result in high death rate & have the potential for major public health impact. They might cause public panic & social heath disruption.
Examples -Smallpox virus, Anthrax, Plague, Botulism, Ebola etc ANTHRAX PLAGUE EBOLA
variola major (smallpox) • Bacillus anthracis (anthrax) • Yersinia pestis (plague) • Clostridium botulinum toxin (botulism) • Francisella tularensis (tularaemia) • filoviruses • Ebola hemorrhagic fever • Marburg hemorrhagic fever • arenaviruses • Lassa (Lassa fever) • Junin (Argentine hemorrhagic fever) and related viruses •
CATEGORY-B :
These agents are second highest priority because, They are moderately easy to spread. They result in moderate illness rates & low death rates They require specific enhancements of CDC’s(Center for Disease Control & prevention) laboratory capacity & enhanced disease monitoring.
Examples -Glander, Meliodosis, Ricin. Q fever, Typhus, Staphylococcal RICIN GLANDERS TYPHUS
Coxiella burnetti (Q fever); • Brucella species (brucellosis) • Burkholderia mallei (glanders) • alpha viruses • Venezuelan encephalomyelitis • eastern and western equine encephalomyelitis • ricin toxin from Ricinus communis (castor beans) • epsilon toxin of Clostridium perfringens • Staphylococcus enterotoxin B.
SUBSET OF LIST B AGENTS INCLUDES PATHOGENS THAT ARE FOOD- OR WATERBORNE - THESE PATHOGENS INCLUDE
Salmonella species • Shigella dysenteriae • Escherichia coli O157:H7 • Vibrio cholerae • Cryptosporidium parvum.
CATEGORY-C :
These 3rd highest priority agents include emerging pathogens that could be engineered for mass spread in the future because, They are easily available. They are easily produced & spread. They have potential for high mortality rate & major health impact.
Examples Multi drugs resistant Tuberculosis, Nipah virus, Hanta virus HANTA VIRUS NIPAH VIRUS
EFFECTS OF BIOLOGICAL ATTACK :
Biological attacks have very harmful effect. According to World Health Organization Release of 50k.g. of Anthrax spores in 40k.m.² area will cause 1 lac death of people. Release of 50k.g. of plague spores in 20k.m.² area will cause 36000 death of people.
BIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOLOGICAL WARFARE:
Biological warfare is the international use of micro- organisms & toxins, generally of microbial, plant or animal origin to produce disease & death in humans, livestock & crops. Historically, bioweapon agents of concern have included a selective group of pathogens & toxins. They are all naturally occurring organisms or their toxic product.
These are mainly of 2 types,
1. Genetically modified agents
2.Advanced biological warfare agents(ABW)
PREPARATION FOR BIOTERRORISM ATTACK :
Familiarize medical staff with BT agents
SPECIAL PROBLEMS WITH BIOTERRORISM
• Specialized labs needed for some agents
• Risks to laboratory workers
• Limited resources
• Communication between agencies
PROJECT BIOSHIELD:
"We refuse to remain idle when modern technology might be turned against us. We will rally the great promise of American science and innovation to confront the greatest danger of our timeFormer President George W. Bush, at the signing of the Project Bio shield Act of 2004 • Authorized spending of $5.6 billion over a span of 10 years in order to pay for vaccines and medical facilities in case of national biological emergency • Gave the National Institute of Health grants to pursue medical research & technology • Emergency Use Authorization – EUA – gave access to best medical responses in case of an emergency as declared by the Secretary of Human Healthy & Services OR Secretary of Homeland Security.
WHAT WE NEED TO PREPARE FOR BIOTERRORISM
• More trained epidemiologists to speed detection
• Increased laboratory capacity
• Health Alert Network
• Medical professionals “back to school”
• National Pharmaceutical Stockpile
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