The Bioterrorisk Simulation

During its 2002 symposium on the future of public health, the Harvard School of Public Health recalled several incidents that show anthrax to be a genuine bioterrorism threat: 1979 incidents of inhalation of anthrax in Sverdlovsk (Hamburg, et al., 2002, p. 131); the deliberate release of anthrax only weeks after the 9/11 terrorist attacks (Hamburg, et al., 2002, p. 124); additional incidents of anthrax being deliberately released in 2001 (Hamburg, et al., 2002, p. 127). In addition, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published a 2006 report mentioning a 2004 anthrax incident in the Dirksen Senate Office Building (CNA Corporation, 2006, p. 1). In addition, there are numerous reports of white powder being received by business and governmental officials. Consequently, there is a realistic possibility of an anthrax (or Ricin) bioterrorist attack in the future and the average individual should know how to respond if he/she receives mysterious white powder in an envelope.

The first major bioterror event in the United States--the anthrax attacks in October 2001--was a clarion call for scientists who work with "hot" agents to find ways of protecting civilian populations against biological weapons. In The Demon in the Freezer, his first nonfiction book since The Hot Zone, a #1 New York Times bestseller, Richard Preston takes us into the heart of Usamriid, the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick, Maryland, once the headquarters of the U.S. biological weapons program and now the epicenter of national biodefense.

Chapter thirteen of the textbook, Biosecurity and Bioterrorism Containing and Preventing Biological Threats, by Jeffrey R. Ryan, examines a wide range of techniques, set up, to help the United States, or U.S., in becoming prepared for a potential biological terrorist attack. A portion of the techniques mentioned throughout chapter thirteen were early warning detection systems. These systems are known as the Autonomous Detection system, and the Biohazard Detection System (Ryan, 327-329). Although both these detection systems have their benefits, the one that has conveyed more consideration over the years is the Biohazard Detection

Terrorist attacks are man-made attacks directed to harm or end the lives of civilians for the terrorist's specific reasons. In the past, these attacks were seen as uncommon and were shocking to the public whenever they did occur; however, after the Trade Center incident of September 11th, the public and the government finally realized that terrorist attacks were no longer simply a rare occurrence, but something to be anticipated and prepared for properly (Pilat, 2005). While shortly after the Oklahoma City bombing and foreign nuclear scares of the Clinton administration, the emphasis of WMD attacks rested on nuclear weapons, it became readily apparent that biological weapons were equally if not more dangerous to the public (Chittaranjan, 1998). Along this line of thought, the federal government enacted the CONPLAN, a plan that outlines the status and treatment of certain terrorist attacks and how these attacks are to be dealt with on a local, state, and national level. This paper will discuss the methods recommended for local responders at the scene of a WMD terrorist attack.

Author Rebecca Katz, a Professor at The George Washington University School of Public Health and Health Services, focuses on protecting our health throughout the world when “targeting environmental disasters and preventing diseases.” She mentions the tragedy of 9/11. When 9/11 happened so many hearts were broken, so many lives were taken and the world was just at a complete scare. United States had to take action and protocol to protect the citizens. In order to keep our nation safe, Public Health Preparedness needs and should be followed as a process. I say that because just not the United States but the world needs to know what to do and follow when there are disasters, tragedies’ whether they are little or big. Katz mention, “Citizens will

In order to mitigate and/or avoid both these risks and outcomes, agencies from the federal to the local level have developed specific techniques and procedures to combat these threats. For example, the hazardous material identification system is a very useful product that first responders can utilize when responding to a terrorist event. Both chemical and biological hazards are risks that first responders may face when responding to a terrorist event. The use of chemical agents by a terrorist group or organization is deliberately orchestrated to inflict serious harm, death, or to incapacitate masses through physiological effects (FEMA, 2002, p.10). If chemical terrorism is used against the U.S., first responders will be at elevated risk of secondary contamination.

Rising level of dissatisfaction amongst minority and youths has led to increasing use of chemical, biological and radiological agents in order to persuade government and public opinions. Response towards chemical, biological and radiological threats preparedness is very complex task, and it withholds certain challenges towards public health and other health care facility staff.

This research paper is broken into four sections. The first section, Bioterrorism Response in a Major Metropolitan Area, provides

Bioterrorism is the deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, toxins or other harmful agents to cause illness or death in people, livestock, or crops. These agents are typically found in nature, but 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. Bacillus anthracis is one of the most popular agents to be used in a bioterrorism attack. Anthrax could be used in many forms, for example, it can be placed into letters and mailed, much like the 2001 anthrax attack, anthrax can be released into the air where the spores can be easily blown by the wind and inhaled or can be carried around on objects such as people’s clothes to which it has

My approach is to develop the best crisis approach through communication. Crisis communication usually has a variety of goals some of which conflict but the most important and universal it to reduce, and contain harm. My next step is calling all organization so they can identify the hazard they face, my first phone call would be the (MDCH) Michigan health community department, and then hopefully they will contact the (American Biological Safety Association). When a crisis began to brew as a communicator and a leader I wonder when to ask for help from the outside for instance public relations agency which might be beneficial to keep the problem from completely overwhelming the organization. This is why I have developed relationship with an agency in case I need them in emergency like this.

Bioterrorism and Biowarfare are emerging threats for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to learn how to prepare for, and respond to. In actuality, bioterrorism and biowarfare have been around for hundreds of years, but since the anthrax attacks in 2001, it has been brought to the forefront of fighting terrorism for the United States. With the advancement of biotechnology and biochemistry, the threat of a bioterrorist attack on American soil is real and possibly imminent. DHS has had to improve their biopreparedness and find ways to rapidly respond to bioterrorist attacks. A brief history on bioterrorism and biowarfare will help to better understand DHS’ role in preparing for, and responding to bioterrorism.

“Bioterrorism is not only a reality of the times in which we live but bioweapons have been used for centuries” (Christian, 2013). Biological warfare is a high impact, asymmetrical threat in which the weapon can fit in a small test tube. “Critical care physicians play a major role in the recognition of and response to a bioterrorism attack” (Christian, 2013). Silent weapons such as infectious diseases like smallpox and poisons like ricin are viewed by terrorist as an ideal weapon to create

The role of the public health community will play a vital role in a radiological threat to a major metropolitan area. Therefore, the public health community would be responsible for providing a shelter in place or evacuation decisions, identifying exposed populations, decontamination processes, safety requirements of the responders and the physical care of exposed patients (Katz, n.d.). However, the local public health community would be overwhelmed, short staffed and undertrained for an event of this magnitude and would require a multi-agency response from the federal and state government. Communications and coordination are an essential to the response of a radiological weapon or any other type of Weapon of Mass Destruction

As discussed earlier, many biological agents such as anthrax and Ebola have negatively affected populations in a way that has scarred the scene of bioterrorism forever. As shown throughout many different bioterrorism events, the use of biological agents has been effective in their cause while causing the fear that was attempted to be achieved. Although biological agents are effective, they are too harmful to use in regular warfare. Putting the entire human race in risk of extinction, or even possibly causing an apocalyptic society, is not worth the outcome of a bioterrorism attack. While the point may be made by the terrorist, the end result may throw the entire world into a mess socially and

Katz, R. (2018). Essentials of public health preparedness and emergency management (1st ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning