Biological warfare agents are used by terrorist to inflict death and terror. A bioterrorism attack is the deliberate spread of agents like viruses, bacteria, or other agents to cause illness or death in people, animals, or plants.
Most agents are found in nature, but terrorist may change the agent to increase their ability to cause disease, make it resistant to medicines, or increase the agents ability to spread throughout the environment, like the air, water or even food.
Agents are used by terrorist because they are difficult to detect, and take several hours or days to affect people. Some agents like smallpox, can spread from person to person, but anthrax does not spread in this manner.
Bioterrorism agents are divided into three categories:
Category A – Toxins or organisms posing the highest risk to the public or our national security. They are transmitted from person to person. They have a high death rate, and require immediate action for public health preparedness. Can cause worldwide panic.
Category B – These agents are easy to spread. They cause moderate illness and low death rates. Require CDC’s laboratory and disease monitoring.
Category C – These agents can be engineered for future attacks. They are easily available. They are produced and can be spread very easily. The morbidity and mortality rates are high.
A list of bioterrorism organism can be found at www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/agentlist.asp.
Americans can get information about bioterrorism from the CDC and American Red Cross which have teamed up to assist Americans. For guidelines connect to http://www.redcross.org/preparedness.
In the event of an attack, our Homeland Security has established a website for emergencies, at www.ready.gov.
In El Paso, Texas, please contact the Public Health Preparedness program:
Monday-Thursday 7am to 6pm
Phone: (915) 771-5789
Fax: (915) 771-5892
After hours emergencies: (915) 771-5702
FOR MORE INFO: Visit the Centers for Disease Control.
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