NCJ Number
191226
Journal
Journal of the American Medical Association Volume: 278 Issue: 5 Dated: August 6, 1997 Pages: 428-430
Date Published
1997
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Proper planning for a terrorist event with biological weapons can limit panic and save lives.
Abstract
The threat of terrorists using biological warfare (BW) agents has received increased attention in recent years. Despite the growing concern, the United States still knows very little about the nature of BW terrorism. There has never been a major BW attack. The first step is to accept the reality that United States will not be able to prevent every act of BW terrorism. The medical and health communities will therefore play the most significant role in combating BW terrorism. BW terrorism is different from conventional terrorism in that the former will have more victims. BW terrorism will encompass a narrower range of tactics than conventional terrorism. Terrorists will likely release BW agents into the air as an aerosol. Since there are no reliable detection systems for BW agents, terrorists will be able to strike any target they wish. The United States is not prepared to respond to a major incident for several reasons: 1) because the thought of a BW attack is so disturbing, public officials cling to the hope that BW events can be prevented; and 2) it is difficult to plan for an event that has never occurred before. The 1997 Defense Authorization Act called for better training, equipment, and coordination among emergency response personnel. Medical personnel should be better trained to recognize symptoms of biological agents. An important part of the response to BW terrorism will be dealing with the psychological reactions among survivors, emergency workers, and the public. The Critical Incident Stress Debriefing process can help in dealing with the psychological aspects of a BW event. The military also will play an important role by assisting Federal and local authorities with tasks similar to those performed in natural disasters. References