Bioterrorism: Can You stop the outbreak

Bioterrorism: Can You Stop the Outbreak?
Student’s Name:
Institution
Abstract
This paper looks at bioterrorism from a scientific front. It starts by defining bioterrorism as the use of bioweapons to unleash terror on humans and other living organisms. Bioweapons such as viruses, bacteria, protozoa, and fungi are agents that can easily be manipulated to disseminate deadly health conditions to humans on a mass scale. They act as bombs, hence, their alternative name “germ” bombs. Characteristically, these organisms are highly infective and effective, highly lethal, well suited for various delivery methods, and can be easily produced in mass. Finally, in regards to countering bioterrorism, acting as the head of the bioterrorism unit, I would increase the intelligence networks and coordinate all the security agencies with public health and biomedicine agencies in ensuring rapid detection, tracking, and mitigation of bioterrorism cases ADDIN CSL_CITATION { “citationItems” : [ { “id” : “ITEM-1”, “itemData” : { “DOI” : “10.1056/NEJMra1409755”, “ISBN” : “1533-4406 (Electronic)\r0028-4793 (Linking)”, “ISSN” : “0028-4793”, “PMID” : “25738671”, “abstract” : “The agents most likely to be used in bioterrorism attacks are reviewed, along with the clinical syndromes they produce and their treatment.”, “author” : [ { “dropping-particle” : “”, “family” : “Adalja”, “given” : “Amesh A.”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” }, { “dropping-particle” : “”, “family” : “Toner”, “given” : “Eric”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” }, { “dropping-particle” : “V.

“, “family” : “Inglesby”, “given” : “Thomas”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” } ], “container-title” : “New England Journal of Medicine”, “id” : “ITEM-1”, “issue” : “10”, “issued” : { “date-parts” : [ [ “2015” ] ] }, “page” : “954-962”, “title” : “Clinical Management of Potential Bioterrorism-Related Conditions”, “type” : “article-journal”, “volume” : “372” }, “uris” : [ “http://www.mendeley.com/documents/?uuid=9fa3f8b5-956d-448d-a80b-ccf7e2a75249” ] } ], “mendeley” : { “formattedCitation” : “(Adalja, Toner, & Inglesby, 2015)”, “plainTextFormattedCitation” : “(Adalja, Toner, & Inglesby, 2015)”, “previouslyFormattedCitation” : “(Adalja, Toner, & Inglesby, 2015)” }, “properties” : { }, “schema” : “https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json” }(Adalja, Toner, & Inglesby, 2015). Another important measure is to channel more investments into the biomedicine and public health sectors in order to improve surveillance and preventive measures against bioterrorism.
Keywords: biological weapons, bioterrorism, infective, public health, biomedicine
Explain what a biological weapon is (in the context of Microbiology)?
Biological weapons or bioweapons are living organisms that are capable of replicating and reproducing within the host victims. They often deliberate the use of disease-causing biological agents to incapacitate or kill plants, animals, and more so humans ADDIN CSL_CITATION { “citationItems” : [ { “id” : “ITEM-1”, “itemData” : { “DOI” : “10.1111/1469-0691.12699”, “ISBN” : “1198-743X”, “ISSN” : “14690691”, “PMID” : “24890710”, “abstract” : “Biological weapons achieve their intended target effects through the infectivity of disease-causing infectious agents. The ability to use biological agents in warfare is prohibited by the Biological and Toxin Weapon Convention. Bioterrorism is defined as the deliberate release of viruses, bacteria or other agents used to cause illness or death in people, but also in animals or plants. It is aimed at creating casualties, terror, societal disruption, or economic loss, inspired by ideological, religious or political beliefs. The success of bioterroristic attempts is defined by the measure of societal disruption and panic, and not necessarily by the sheer number of casualties. Thus, making only a few individuals ill by the use of crude methods may be sufficient, as long as it creates the impact that is aimed for. The assessment of bioterrorism threats and motives have been described before. Biocrime implies the use of a biological agent to kill or make ill a single individual or small group of individuals, motivated by revenge or the desire for monetary gain by extortion, rather than by political, ideological, religious or other beliefs. The likelihood of a successful bioterrorist attack is not very large, given the technical difficulties and constraints. However, even if the number of casualties is likely to be limited, the impact of a bioterrorist attack can still be high. Measures aimed at enhancing diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities and capacities alongside training and education will improve the ability of society to combat ‘regular’ infectious diseases outbreaks, as well as mitigating the effects of bioterrorist attacks.”, “author” : [ { “dropping-particle” : “”, “family” : “Jansen”, “given” : “H. J.”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” }, { “dropping-particle” : “”, “family” : “Breeveld”, “given” : “F. J.”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” }, { “dropping-particle” : “”, “family” : “Stijnis”, “given” : “C.”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” }, { “dropping-particle” : “”, “family” : “Grobusch”, “given” : “M. P.”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” } ], “container-title” : “Clinical Microbiology and Infection”, “id” : “ITEM-1”, “issue” : “6”, “issued” : { “date-parts” : [ [ “2014” ] ] }, “page” : “488-496”, “title” : “Biological warfare, bioterrorism, and biocrime”, “type” : “article”, “volume” : “20” }, “uris” : [ “http://www.mendeley.com/documents/?uuid=2f7bc319-3de2-4ea7-b2a8-e997b419aa67” ] } ], “mendeley” : { “formattedCitation” : “(Jansen, Breeveld, Stijnis, & Grobusch, 2014)”, “plainTextFormattedCitation” : “(Jansen, Breeveld, Stijnis, & Grobusch, 2014)”, “previouslyFormattedCitation” : “(Jansen, Breeveld, Stijnis, & Grobusch, 2014)” }, “properties” : { }, “schema” : “https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json” }(Jansen, Breeveld, Stijnis, & Grobusch, 2014). They can also be referred to as “germ bombs.” The commonly used biological weapons include bacteria, fungi, protozoans, and virus ADDIN CSL_CITATION { “citationItems” : [ { “id” : “ITEM-1”, “itemData” : { “DOI” : “10.1016/j.ccc.2013.03.015”, “ISBN” : “9781455775842”, “ISSN” : “07490704”, “PMID” : “23830660”, “abstract” : “Bioterrorism is not only a reality of the times in which we live but bioweapons have been used for centuries. Critical care physicians play a major role in the recognition of and response to a bioterrorism attack. Critical care clinicians must be familiar with the diagnosis and management of the most likely bioterrorism agents, and also be adequately prepared to manage a mass casualty situation. This article reviews the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of the most likely agents of biowarfare and bioterrorism. u00a9 2013.”, “author” : [ { “dropping-particle” : “”, “family” : “Christian”, “given” : “Michael D.”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” } ], “container-title” : “Critical Care Clinics”, “id” : “ITEM-1”, “issue” : “3”, “issued” : { “date-parts” : [ [ “2013” ] ] }, “page” : “717-756”, “title” : “Biowarfare and Bioterrorism”, “type” : “article”, “volume” : “29” }, “uris” : [ “http://www.mendeley.com/documents/?uuid=8ebdbdc9-6145-4000-b74f-7c87e12f165b” ] } ], “mendeley” : { “formattedCitation” : “(Christian, 2013)”, “plainTextFormattedCitation” : “(Christian, 2013)”, “previouslyFormattedCitation” : “(Christian, 2013)” }, “properties” : { }, “schema” : “https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json” }(Christian, 2013). In brief, this paper looks at the features of biological weapons and the preventive measures that one can adopt in the fight against bioterrorism if appointed as the head of a counter-terrorism unit in the government.
What features make some bacteria suitable for use as a biological weapon?
Some of the bacteria used are highly lethal with high morbidity potential.
These bacteria are also highly toxic and infectious.
They are also well suited to be produced in mass and can be transported with minimal chances of losing their pathogenic potential.
These bacteria are well suited for a variety of wide-area delivery methods.
These bacteria have to stay stable enough in the environment after dissemination for a long period till they infect humans.
You have been asked to head a counter-bioterrorism unit in the Government. What measures would you propose to prevent and protect the country in the event of a bioterrorism attack?
Developing a response: It is important as the head of the counter-bioterrorism unit to understand that public health is a crucial pillar in the national security framework ADDIN CSL_CITATION { “citationItems” : [ { “id” : “ITEM-1”, “itemData” : { “DOI” : “10.1056/NEJMra1409755”, “ISBN” : “1533-4406 (Electronic)\r0028-4793 (Linking)”, “ISSN” : “0028-4793”, “PMID” : “25738671”, “abstract” : “The agents most likely to be used in bioterrorism attacks are reviewed, along with the clinical syndromes they produce and their treatment.”, “author” : [ { “dropping-particle” : “”, “family” : “Adalja”, “given” : “Amesh A.”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” }, { “dropping-particle” : “”, “family” : “Toner”, “given” : “Eric”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” }, { “dropping-particle” : “V.”, “family” : “Inglesby”, “given” : “Thomas”, “non-dropping-particle” : “”, “parse-names” : false, “suffix” : “” } ], “container-title” : “New England Journal of Medicine”, “id” : “ITEM-1”, “issue” : “10”, “issued” : { “date-parts” : [ [ “2015” ] ] }, “page” : “954-962”, “title” : “Clinical Management of Potential Bioterrorism-Related Conditions”, “type” : “article-journal”, “volume” : “372” }, “uris” : [ “http://www.mendeley.com/documents/?uuid=9fa3f8b5-956d-448d-a80b-ccf7e2a75249” ] } ], “mendeley” : { “formattedCitation” : “(Adalja et al., 2015)”, “plainTextFormattedCitation” : “(Adalja et al., 2015)”, “previouslyFormattedCitation” : “(Adalja et al., 2015)” }, “properties” : { }, “schema” : “https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json” }(Adalja et al., 2015). Therefore, it is essential to fully partner with the governmental security council. There is also an urgent need to capacitate the public health system both in policy and equipment that would ease the efforts of infectious disease detection, tracking, and mitigating (Knobler et al. 2002). Also, as the head of the unit, I will increase sustained investments and funding to upgrade the existing public health facilities. These resources should be used to enhance surveillance systems that are important in the rapid detection of strange diseases and symptoms.
Prevention: To prevent bioterrorism, it is important to capacitate and bolster our intelligence agencies. The intelligence agencies should include scientific and medical experts who would aid in data collection and analysis. Overall, as the head of the unit, I would initiate a well-coordinated partnership between the intelligence agencies, the biomedical body, the public health personnel, as well as the law enforcement agency in the fight against bioterrorism (Knobler et al. 2002).
References
Knobler, S., Mahmoud, A. A., & Pray, L. A. (2002). Biological threats and terrorism: assessing the science and response capabilities: workshop summary. National Academies Press.
ADDIN Mendeley Bibliography CSL_BIBLIOGRAPHY Adalja, A. A., Toner, E., & Inglesby, T. V. (2015). Clinical Management of Potential Bioterrorism-Related Conditions. New England Journal of Medicine, 372(10), 954–962. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra1409755
Christian, M. D. (2013). Biowarfare and Bioterrorism. Critical Care Clinics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccc.2013.03.015
Jansen, H. J., Breeveld, F. J., Stijnis, C., & Grobusch, M. P. (2014). Biological warfare, bioterrorism, and biocrime. Clinical Microbiology and Infection. https://doi.org/10.1111/1469-0691.12699