BIOTERRORISM

BIOTERRORISM Examples of Category A Microorganisms
- It is the intentional release of

biologic agents (viruses, bacteria, or ANTHRAX
their toxins) to cause illness or death Causative Agent: Bacillus Anthracis
among people and terrorize a civilian MOT: 1. Direct Contact with infected
population. animals
- It is considered as a public health 2. Occupational exposure to
emergency. infected animal products.
- Also referred to as biological attack. ● A disease of herbivorous
mammals.
Classification of Bioterrorism Agents Types of Anthrax:
● Ability of the agents to be ● Cutaneous
disseminated ● Inhalation
● Mortality rate of the agent ● Gastrointestinal
● Capability of causing public panic
● Actions required for public health BOTULISM:
preparedness Causative Agent: clostridium botulinum
toxin
Categories and Characteristics of ● A rare but serious illness
Bioterrorism Agents ● Caused by a toxin that attacks the
body’s nerves and causes difficulty
Category A in breathing, muscle paralysis, and
- Pathogens rarely seen in the US even death.
Highest Priority Types of Botulism:
- Pose risk to national security ● Foodborne botulism
because they: ● Wound botulism
1. Can be easily disseminated or ● Infant botulism
transferred from person to person ● Iatrogenic botulism
2. Results in high mortality rates and ● Adult intestinal toxemia
have a potential major public health
impact. PLAGUE
3. Might cause public panic and social Causative Agent: Yersinia pestis
disruption. MOT: 1. Bite of infected fleas
4. Require special attention for public 2. Inhalation of infected
health preparedness. respiratory droplets
Types of Plague:
● Bubonic Plague
● Pneumonic
SMALLPOX CATEGORY B
Causative Agent: Variola Virus - Second highest priority
● Before smallpox was eradicated, it - Moderately easy to disseminate
was a serious contagious disease - Result in moderate morbidity rates
● Causes fever and a distinctive and low mortality rates
progressive skin rash - Require specific enhancements of
● About 3 out of every 10 people the CDC’s diagnostic capability
with disease died. and enhanced disease surveillance.
MOT: Direct and fairly prolonged
face-to-face contact between people. Examples of Category B Microorganisms
TULAREMIA BRUCELLOSIS
Causative Agent: Francisella tularensis Causative Agent: Brucella species
● Can infect in several different MOT: Contact with infected animals or
ways, including tick and deer fly contaminated animal products
bites and contact with infected ● Certain jobs or hobbies may face
animals (esp. Rodents. Rabbits, increase exposure, such as hunters.
and hares)
Signs and symptoms of tularemia vary RICIN TOXIN
depending on how the bacteria enters the Causative Agent: Castor beans (Ricinus
body. communis)
● Ricin is part of the waste “mash”
VIRAL HEMORRHAGIC FEVERS produced when castor oils is made
● Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) ● If castor beans are chewed and
are a group of diseases that are swallowed, the release of ricin can
caused by several distinct families cause injury
of viruses
● These causes a condition where Q-FEVER
many of the body's organ systems Causative agent: Coxiella burnetii
are affected, the overall ● Naturally infect some animals,
cardiovascular system is damaged, such as goats, sheep, and cows
and the body's ability to function ● These bacteria are found in the
on its own is reduced birth products, urine, poop, and
Examples of VHFs milk of infected animals
● Ebola Virus ● There is not a vaccine to prevent Q
● Marburg virus Fever available for use.
● Lassa Virus Symptoms:
● Headache
● Fatigue, malaise, and muscle aches
● Abdominal pain, nausea, vomitting
● High fever are spread to humans by fleas, lice,
● Chills and/or sweating and chiggers.
● Loss of appetite diarrhea ● The most common symptoms are
fever, headaches, and sometimes
FOOD SAFETY THREATS rash.
● Foodborne germs can lead to
illness, hospitalization, and death CLASSIFICATION OF TYPHUS
● CDC estimates that each year 48 ● Murine typhus (flea-borne
million people get sick from a typhus) Rickettsia typhi
foodborne illness, 128,000 are ● Epidemic typhus
hospitalized, and 3,000 die (louse-borne typhus)
● Prevent food poisoning - clean, Rickettsia prowazekii
separate, cook, and chill ● Scrub typhus (Bush typhus)
Orientia tsutsugamushi
Examples of Food Safety Threats
● Norovirus
● Clostridium perfringens CATEGORY C
● Salmonella species - Third highest priority
● Staphylococcus aureus - Include emerging pathogens that
● Escherichia coli could be engineered for mass
dissemination in the future
CHOLERA because of:
Causative agent: Vibrio Cholorae 1. Availability
● Spread through contaminated 2. Ease of production and
water and food dissemination
● Cholera can cause life-threatening 3. Potential for high morbidity and
watery diarrhea and vomiting mortality rates and major health
Symptoms: impact.
● Watery diarrhea Example of Category C Microorganisms
● nausea/vomiting
● Dehydration NIPAH VIRUS
● Low Bp ● Causes disease that can spread
● Rapid heart rate between animals and people
● Persistent vomiting ● Carried by fruit bats (genus
● Muscle cramps Pteropus), also known as flying
foxes
TYPHUS FEVERS ● Nipah can cause mild to severe
disease, including swelling of the
● Typhus fevers are a group of brain and death
diseases caused by bacteria that
biological toxins, including ricin,
botulisum, and others
HANTAVIRUS
● Hantaviruses are a family of
viruses that cause serious diseases
like hantavirus pulmonary
syndrome (HPS) and hemorrhagic
fever with renal syndrome
(HFRS).
● Spread mainly by rodents and are
not spread from person-to-person
PREPARATION AND PLANNING FOR

BIOTERRORISM EMERGENCIES
Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention (CDC)
- Provides an A-Z listing of
biological agents with bioterrorist
potential
- Files a Morbidity and Mortality
Weekly Report (MMWR) which
provides guidance to healthcare
and laboratory workers in
identifying a bioterrorism-related
disease outbreak.
U.S. Army Medical Research

Institute of Infectious
Diseases (USAMRIID)
- Publishes the "Medical

Management of Biological
Casualties Handbook" which
contains specific information on a
number of potential bioterrorism
agents
- Published "Defense Against Toxin
Weapons" which discusses many

BIOTERRORISM

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BIOTERRORISM Examples of Category A Microorganisms

- It is the intentional release of

PREPARATION AND PLANNING FOR

Centers for Disease Control

U.S. Army Medical Research

- Publishes the "Medical

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