Bioterrorism
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The document discusses bioterrorism and several biological agents that could potentially be used for bioterrorism, including anthrax, smallpox, pneumonic plague, and botulism. It provides details on the characteristics, symptoms, treatment and prevention of these diseases.
Bioterrorism
- 1. BIOTERRORISM George Anne Thibodeau, M.S., CIC
- 2. BIOTERRORISM The use of biological agents, such as pathogenic organisms or agricultural pests, for terrorist purposes.
- 3. INDICATORS OF BIOTERRORISM An unusual geographic cluster of illnesses An unusual age distribution for common diseases Appearance of previously rare diseases
- 4. MOST LIKELY AGENTS Anthrax Smallpox Pneumonic plague Botulism
- 5. ANTHRAX Bacterial infection Causative agent Bacillus anthracis Aerobic Gram positive Rod-shaped Non-motile Spore forming
- 6. ANTHRAX Infection of herbivores Human infections follows contact with infected animals contaminated animal products intentional release of spores Not transmitted from person-to-person
- 7. 3 FORMS OF ANTHRAX Cutaneous Inhalation Gastrointestinal
- 8. CUTANEOUS ANTHRAX 95% OF NATURALLY OCCURRING ANTHRAX Incubation period of 2 - 12 days Causes painless, black ulcer where spores entered a break in the skin 20% fatality rate if untreated
- 10. GASTROINTESTINAL ANTHRAX Rare form of disease Follows consumption of contaminated meat or other foods containing spores Nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever followed by abdominal pain,vomiting of blood, severe diarrhea 25 - 60% fatality rate
- 11. INHALATION ANTHRAX 8000 - 12,000 spores must be inhaled 1st stage: fever, muscle aches, chills, cough 2nd stage: difficulty breathing, shock, meningitis Almost 100% fatality rate if not treated during 1st stage
- 12. INCIDENCE OF NATURALLY OCCURRING ANTHRAX 224 cases of cutaneous anthrax in U.S. between 1944 and 1994 18 cases of inhalation anthrax in U.S. between 1900 and 1978 No cases of gastrointestinal cases reported in U.S.
- 13. WHAT MAKES ANTHRAX A GOOD BIOTERRORISM WEAPON Highly lethal with 100 million lethal doses per gram of anthrax material Silent, invisible killer Inhalation anthrax is virtually 100% fatal Low production cost Easy to produce in large quantities Extremely stable Currently we have limited detection capabilities
- 14. PRODUCTION OF WEAPONS-GRADE ANTHRAX Obtain virulent strain of Bacillus anthracis Grow organism in large quantities in liquid form Force bacterium to produce spores Dry and suspend in powder Deliver by aerosol
- 15. ANTHRAX TREATMENT Cipro: 2 tablets for 60 days ($500) Doxycycline: 2 tablets for 60 days ($30) Amoxicillin: 3 tablets for 60 days ($40)
- 16. ANTHRAX VACCINE 6 - dose series Annual booster Currently produced by one manufacturer Administered to U.S. Armed Forces Post-exposure vaccination recommended after large-scale exposure (if available)
- 17. CDC’S GUIDELINES ON HANDLING ANTHRAX THREATS DO NOT PANIC Package marked with threats or “Anthrax” DO NOT OPEN Do not shake or empty Place in plastic bag or closable container Leave room and secure area Wash hands Call 911
- 18. ANTHRAX THREAT Package or letter opened containing powdery substance Cover contents with trash container, paper, clothing Leave room and secure area Wash hands Call 911 Remove contaminated clothing and place in plastic bag or closable container Shower with soap and water
- 19. ANTHRAX THREAT Possible introduction into ventilation system Turn off fans or ventilation units Leave area immediately Close door and secure area Call 911 Shut down air handling system
- 21. SMALLPOX Last case in U.S. occurred in 1949 Vaccinations in U.S. discontinued in 1980 Last case in world occurred in 1977 in Somalia Only known reserves of virus are in the U.S. and Russia
- 22. SMALLPOX Viral infection Transmitted by inhalation of air droplets Can be transmitted person-to-person Incubation period 12 - 14 days Fever, chills, headache, vesicles Fatality rate 20 - 50% No treatment available 1 person can infect 10 - 20 people U.S. currently has 6 - 7 million doses of vaccine In process of producing 40 million doses
- 23. PLAGUE Bacterial infection Occurs naturally in southwestern U.S. Pneumonic plague incubation period 2 - 3 days Transmitted person-to-person High fever, chills, headache, pneumonia Fatality rate 100% if untreated, 5 - 20% with treatment Treatment with tetracycline or gentamicin Vaccine: 5 doses over 2 years, annual boosters
- 24. BOTULISM Bacterial toxin Inhalation botulism symptoms develop in 1 -3 days Symptoms include blurred vision, difficulty swallowing, muscle paralysis, respiratory failure Difficult to diagnose Fatality rate 60% if untreated Anti-toxin available for treatment Vaccine: 3 doses over 3 month period, annual booster
- 25. Delta Medical Center of Memphis