Basic Science applied to medicine

1. I don't have the evidence to prove that God doesn't exist, but I so strongly suspect he doesn't that I
don't want to waste my time.
-Isaac Asimov
BIOTERRORISM
DEFINITION
The unlawful use, or threatened use, of microorganisms or toxins derived from living organisms
to produce death or disease in humans, animals, or plants. The act is intended to create fear and
intimidate governments or societies in the pursuit of political, religious, or ideological goals.
CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM
Public Health impact criteria based on:
•Morbidity and mortality
•Delivery potential
•Public perception (fear, civil disruption)
•Public health preparedness needs
CDC CLASSIFICATION
CATEGORY A CATEGORY B CATEGORY C
Can be easily disseminated or
transmitted person-to-person
Are moderately easy to
disseminate
EMERGING PATHOGENS
THAT COULD BE
ENGINEERED FOR MASS
DISSEMINATION IN THE
FUTURE
Cause high mortality, with
potential for major public
health impact
Cause moderate morbidity and
low mortality
Might cause public panic and
social disruption
Require special action for
public health preparedness
Require specific
enhancements of CDC's
diagnostic capacity and
enhanced disease surveillance
Variola major (smallpox)
Bacillus anthracis (anthrax)
Yersinia pestis (plague)
•Clostridium botulinum toxin
(botulism)
•Francisella tularensis
(tularaemia)
•filoviruses
•Ebola hemorrhagic fever
Coxiella burnetti (Q fever);
•Brucella species (brucellosis)
•Burkholderia mallei
(glanders)
•alpha viruses
•Venezuelan
encephalomyelitis
•eastern and western equine
encephalomyelitis
Nipah virus
•Hantaviruses
•Fick-borne hemorrhagic fever
viruses
•Tick-borne encephalitis
viruses
•Yellow fever
•Multidrug-resistant
tuberculosis
- Created with love
by Dr. Eashan Srivastava

2. I don't have the evidence to prove that God doesn't exist, but I so strongly suspect he doesn't that I
don't want to waste my time.
-Isaac Asimov
•Marburg hemorrhagic fever
•arenaviruses
•Lassa (Lassa fever)
•Junin (Argentine hemorrhagic
fever) and related viruses
•ricin toxin from Ricinus
communis (castor beans)
•epsilon toxin of Clostridium
perfringens
•Staphylococcus enterotoxin B
SUBSET OF LIST B
AGENTS INCLUDES
FOOD- OR WATERBORNE
PATHOGENS
Salmonella species
•Shigella dysenteriae
•Escherichia coli O157:H7
•Vibrio cholerae
•Cryptosporidium parvum
Delivery Methods
•Food / Water
•Aircraft sprayers
•Vehicle sprayers
•Hand sprayers
•Mail
•Air handling systems
•Human Vector
•Animal Vector
INDICATORS OF A BIOLOGICAL TERROR EVENT
Occurrence of vector-borne disease where there is ​no vector
•Cluster of sick or dead animals
•Atypical seasonality
•Geographic Pattern of Illness
•​More respiratory presentation of disease
IDEAL BIOTERROR WEAPON
1.contagious
2.virulent
3.robust
4.difficult to detect
5.drug-resistant
6.user-controllable
- Created with love
by Dr. Eashan Srivastava

3. I don't have the evidence to prove that God doesn't exist, but I so strongly suspect he doesn't that I
don't want to waste my time.
-Isaac Asimov
No natural agent meets all of these criteria
PREPARATION FOR BT ATTACK
•Familiarize medical staff with BT agents
•Incorporate into Disaster Planning
•Decontamination & Infection Control
•Communications with key agencies
•Laboratory, Respective health authorities of the Nation.
•Contacts to obtain stockpiled supplies: antibiotics, immune sera, vaccines, etc.
•Security preparations
PROBLEMS WITH BT
Identifying a covert attack
•Social disruption
•Prophylaxis for large populations
•Decontamination
•Secondary transmission
WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT A BIOTERRORIST DISEASE
IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY​:
•Hospital Infection Control
•Isolation: Smallpox, plague, hemorrhagic fevers
•Laboratory
•Hospital Administration
•Local Public Health Department
- Created with love
by Dr. Eashan Srivastava