This document discusses bioterrorism and biological weapons. It outlines categories of biological agents from A to C based on their ease of dissemination and mortality rates. Category A agents like anthrax, smallpox, and Ebola are highly contagious and deadly. The document also covers signs of a bioterrorism attack and the importance of early preparation, detection systems, and public awareness programs to prevent and respond to biological threats.

1. 1

2. BIOTERRORISM 3
The intended use of biological weapons to cause disease in
humans, animals, and plants, as an act of war. Biological
weapons deliberately disseminate disease producing
organisms or toxins and achieves this effect through
multiplication within a target host.

3. Forms of Bioterrorism 3
Classic Terrorism
• Against person &
Institutions.
Agri-Bioterrorism
• Against
crops/foods/plants
Product tampering
• Directed against
consumer/
commercial
products

4. CLASSIFICATION 4
Category A
• Early disseminated
• High mortality rates
• Major public health
impact
• Public panic and social
disruption
Category B
• Moderately easy to
disseminate
• Low mortality rates
Category
Category C
• Emerging pathogens
• Could be engineered for
mass dissemination in
the future

5. 5

6. Category A agents
Bacteria Viruses
Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) Viral hemorrhagic fevers
Botulism (Clostridium botulinum toxin) Arenaviruses: Lassa, New World
(Machupo, Junin, Guanarito, and Sabia)
Plague (Yersinia pestis) Bunyaviridae: Crimean Congo, Rift
Valley
Smallpox (Variola major) Filoviridae: Ebola, Marburg
Tularemia (Francisella tularensis) Flaviviridae: Yellow fever; Omsk fever;
Kyasanur Forest
6

7. Anthrax
 Anthrax is a noncontagious
disease caused by the spore-
forming bacterium Bacillus
anthracis.
 An anthrax vaccine does exist
but requires many injections
for stable use.
7

8. Small Pox
 Smallpox is a highly contagious
virus.
 It is transmitted easily through
the atmosphere and has a high
mortality rate (20-40%).
 Smallpox was eradicated in the
world in the 1970s, thanks to a
worldwide vaccination program.
8

9. EBOLA
 First recorded outbreak at,Yambuku in
democratic republic of congo (EBOLA
RIVER).
 Viruses do not contain enzymes for
energy production or protein synthesis.
 Small infectious agent that replicates
only inside the living cells of other
organisms.
 No licensed vaccine for EVD is
available. Several vaccines are being
tested, but none are available for
clinical use.
9

10. Category B agents
 Category B agents are moderately easy to disseminate and have low mortality rates.
1. Brucellosis (Brucella spp.)
2. Clostridium perfringens
3. Glanders (Burkholderia mallei)
4. Melioidosis (B. pseudomallei)
5. Psittacosis (Chlamydia psittaci)
6. Q fever (Coxiella burnetii)
7. Ricin toxin from Ricinus communis (castor beans)
8. Typhus fever
10
Food safety threats:
Salmonella sp.
Escherichia coli
Shigella sp.
Water safety threats:
Vibrio cholerae
Cryptosporidium parvum

11. Ricinus communis Burkholderia mallei
Chlamydia psittaci Coxiella burnetii
11

12. Category C agents
 Category C agents are emerging pathogens that might be engineered for mass dissemination
because of their:
A. Availability
B. Ease of production and dissemination
C. High mortality rate
D. Ability to cause a major health impact.
Nipah Virus Hanta Virus
Example:
1. Nipah Virus
2. Hanta Virus
3. SARS
4. H1N1 a strain of Influenza
5. HIV/AIDS SARS Virus HIV Virus
12

13. Signs of Bioterrorism
 Outbreak of a rare disease.
 Seasonal disease at a wrong time.
 Unusual age distribution.
 Unusual clinical symptoms.
 Unusual epidemiologic features.
 Outbreak in a region / geographic location where it is not normally seen.
13

14. Early Preparation
 Familiarize medical staffs with agents of Bioterrorism.
 Incorporate into disaster planning –
• Decontamination & infection control.
• Communication with key agencies- Laboratory, Respective national
health authorities.
• Contacts to obtain stockpiled supplies – Antibiotics, Immune sera,
Vaccines, etc.
• Security preparations.
14

15. Preparedness
 Biological agents are relatively
easy to obtain by terrorists and
laboratories are working on
advanced detection systems to
provide:
1. Early warning
2. Identify contaminated areas and
Populations at risk
3. To facilitate prompt treatment.
15

16. Bioterrorism in Bangladesh
 Bangladesh is more vulnerable to biological threat because of dense
susceptible population, poverty, inadequate response capacity.
 Recent events including of deaths and cases relating to anthrax infection are
found to be linked to acts of terrorism in the country.
 Bangladesh is also suffering from the small pox .
 Though bioterrorism isn’t still acute but the government should take necessary
steps to prevent it as intellectual crime in the world is increasing day by day .
16

17. Conclusion
 National level mass awareness programs should be arranged.
 Practical steps should be taken.
 Every person must take care of himself and his dear ones.
 Legislation should be made.
 Improve conditions of urban areas.
17

18. 18