bio terrorism - south carolina at risk (1)

8/3/2019 Bio Terrorism - South Carolina at Risk (1)

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BIOTERRORISM: SOUTHBIOTERRORISM: SOUTH

CAROLINA AT RISKCAROLINA AT RISK


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OBJECTIVESOBJECTIVES

To understand the concept of terrorism

To understand the rationale for the useof biological agents as terrorist weapons

To describe the characteristics of those

biologic agents thought to be the choice

of terrorists


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Bioterrorism is one form of terrorism.

Terrorism is defined as the unlawful use

of force or violence against persons or

property to intimidate or coerce a

government or civilian population in the

furtherance of political or socialobjectives.


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Terrorists use weapons of mass

destruction. These are destructive

devices which include bombs, missiles,

poison chemicals, disease organisms,

radiation or radioactivity at levels

dangerous to human life.


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The 9/11 Commission Report stated

referring to the terrorist threat

..we are not safe

Time is not on our side..


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Biologic agents are likely to be used byterrorists as weapons because:

They are capable of damaging populations,economies, and food supplies

Certain agents are inexpensive to make

They can be directed at a small group of people oran entire population

They can be used to attack people, economiesand food supplies

They cause fear, panic and social disruption


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Characteristics of biological agents thatCharacteristics of biological agents that

could be used as bioterrorist agentscould be used as bioterrorist agents

They have a wide range of effects

They are obtained from nature

They are easily made by relatively

unsophisticated methods

They are invisible to the senses

Their effects may be delayed

They can produce mass casualties


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DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ADIFFERENCES BETWEEN A

BIOLOGICAL ATTACK AND ABIOLOGICAL ATTACK AND A

NATURAL OCCURENCENATURAL OCCURENCE

A biological terrorist attack may mimic a

large scale naturally occurring diseaseoutbreak. There are differences. A

biological attack:

Results from a deliberate act

Will be treated as a crime scene

May not be immediately recognized


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BIOLOGICAL ATTACK VS. NATURALBIOLOGICAL ATTACK VS. NATURAL

OCCURRENCEOCCURRENCE

May be preceded by verbal or written threats

from a terrorist group

May find abandoned spray devices may befound

Claims by a terrorist group to have released a

biologic agent

May result in contamination of critical facilities

May expand rapidly from different source cases

Will cause widespread public panic


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ROUTES OF ENTRY INTOROUTES OF ENTRY INTO

THE HUMAN BOD

YTHE HUMAN BOD

Y

Ingestion

Dermal penetration

Inhalation


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AEROSOL INHALATIONAEROSOL INHALATION

The use of aerosols is an efficient way

to affect the maximum number of

people with a single attack.


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BIOWEAPONS RECENTBIOWEAPONS RECENT

HISTORYHISTORY Bioweapons have a long history. Recent

uses include:

U.S, Canada, Great Britain, Japan, and theU.S.S.R experiment with anthrax duringWorld WarII (W.W.II)

In 1991, Iraq threatens use of bioweapons

against U. S. troops in Persian Gulf war Post W.W.II , NATO and the Warsaw Pact

nations had bioweapons programs


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HISTORYHISTORY In 1969, U. S. unilateral decision to

destroy bioweapons

In 1972, Bioweapons Conventioncreated in which U. S. and U. S. S. R.were signatories

Possible/probable active offensivebioweapons programs in N. Korea, Iran,China, Egypt, Algeria, India, Pakistan,Syria, Israel


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HISTORYHISTORY In 1986, Bhagwan cult poisons Oregon

salad bars with salmonella-715 people

sick

In 1995, Aryan Nation orders plague

bacteria from supply house in Maryland

and Minnesota Patriots Councilmembers convicted for planning ricin

use in assassination attempt


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BIOLOGICAL AGENTSBIOLOGICAL AGENTS

There are several types of agents.

They are classified as:

Bacteria

Rickettsia

Viruses

Biotoxins


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BACTERIABACTERIA

Single celled organisms

capable of causing

disease. These agents,

grown on culture to

produce large

quantities, can be

modified or

weaponized forgreater destruction

Produces inflamation in

tissues and/or toxins

EXAMPLES

ANTHRAX

SMALL POX

PLAGUE

TYPHOID

CHOLERA TULAREMIA


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RICKETTSIARICKETTSIA

Vector borne (ticks,

lice, mosquitos)

parasitic form ofbacteria

Diseases are

difficult to treat

Variants exist

worldwide

EXAMPLES

TYPHUS

ROCKY MT.

SPOTTED FEVER

Q FEVER

INDIA TICK FEVER MEDITERANEAN

TICK FEVER


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VIRUSESVIRUSES

Smaller than

bacteria

RNA or DNA in aprotein coat

Use living cells to

reproduce

Not affected by

antibiotics

EXAMPLES

EBOLA

LASSA FEVER INFLUENZA

VIRAL HEPATITIS

VIRALHEMORRHAGIC

FEVERS


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BIOTOXINSBIOTOXINS

Are poisonous by-products of bacteria,

fungi, marineanimals or plants

Do not replicate inthe host

Are notcommunicable

Highly toxic whendelivered as an

aerosol

EXAMPLES

BOTULINUM

STAPHLOCCOCAL

ENTEROTOXIN B

RICIN


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Biological Agents most likelyBiological Agents most likely

to be used in a terrorist attackto be used in a terrorist attack Bacteria - anthrax, plague, tularemia

Virus - small pox, viral hemorrhagic

fever

Biotoxin - botulism


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ANTHRAXANTHRAX

Infectious agent: Bacillus anthracis

gram +, spore forming bacteria

May enter the body from skin

(cutaneous), digestive system or by

inhalation (most likely route to be used

by terrorists)


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ANTHRAXANTHRAX

Symptoms: itching, lesions, fever, fatigue,non-productive cough, respiratory failure and

hemodynamic collapse Transmission: none person to person except

with cutaneous

Incubation period: 1 to 6 days

Mortality: 5 to 20% percutaneous, 80 to 90%inhalation

Treatment: antibiotics

Prevention: vaccine


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PLAGUEPLAGUE

In nature, fleas living on rodents spreadinfection to humans. As a bioterrorist weapon

inhalation of aerosol leads to pneumonia,sepsis and infections of bodily organs

Infectious agent: Yersinia pestis a gramneg., non-motile bacillus

May be bubonic ( infection of lymph nodes) orpneumonic (infection of lungs)or septicemic

Symptoms: cough with bloody sputum, fever,chill, shortness of breath


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PLAGUEPLAGUE

Transmission: may occur person to

person by respiratory droplet inhalation


Mortality: 50 to 60%

Treatment: antibiotics

Prevention: vaccine ineffective against

aerosol exposure


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TULAREMIATULAREMIA

A zoonotic, bacterial infection caused by

Francisella tularensis, a gram negative

coccobacillus

In nature, bacteria is commonly found

in ticks living on rabbits and transmitted

by handling the animal or by tick bite.Inhalation of aerosol leads to

pneumonia and sepsis


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TULAREMIATULAREMIA

Symptoms:sudden and influenza-like with

fever,chills, headache and nausea

Transmission: not usually person to person

Incubation period:3 to 5 days(range 1 to 14)

Mortality:low unless untreated

Treatment:antibiotics if early, vaccine available Prevention: in nature, avoid tick bites and using

gloves when handling infected animals


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BOTULISMBOTULISM

Infectious agent: Clostridium botulinum

a spore forming, anaerobic bacillus

In nature, may be food borne, wound, or

intestinal.As a bioterrorist weapon,

ingestion or inhalation leads to

production of the neurotoxin andresulting flaccid paralysis


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BOTULISMBOTULISM

Symptom: fatigue, weakness, blurred vision,

difficulty in swallowing and speaking, descending

muscle paralysis and respiratory failure Transmission: none person to person

Incubation period: 12 to 72 hours

Mortality: most lethal compound per weight Treatment: antitoxins, respiratory support

Prevention: vaccine available for types A and B


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SMALL POXSMALL POX

Infectious agent: Variola virus - Orthopox virus

Declared eradicated in 1980, but stockpiles may

exist Not naturally acquired. It can be disseminated

as and inhaled as an aerosol

Symptoms: Fever, muscular rigidity, headaches,

and vomiting. Severe cases experienceprostration and hemorrhage into skin andmucous membranes


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SMALL POXSMALL POX

Rash appears after about three weeks;progresses from macules (initial skin lesions) to

papules to pustular vesicles, to scabs Transmission: may occur person to person by

respiratory droplets or skin inoculation. Highlycontagious when rash appears

Incubation period: 10 to 12 days Mortality: less than 1% in the minor form and 20

to50 % in the major form

Treatment: supportive

Prevention: vaccine


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VIRAL HEMORRHAGICVIRAL HEMORRHAGIC

FEVERSFEVERS These are highly infectious viral illnesses caused by

the Filoviruses (Ebola and Marburg), Arenaviruses(Lassa fever), Bunyaviruses (Congo hemorragic

fever and Hantaviral disease), and Flaviviruses Symptoms: vary from one type to the next. They

include: sudden onset of fever, muscle aches,headache, followed by vomiting, diarrhea, and rashand internal bleeding

Complications: In severe forms, multiorgan failureoccurs, primarily due to hemorrhagic and pulmonarycomplications


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VIRAL HEMORRAGICVIRAL HEMORRAGIC

FEVERSFEVERS

Mode of transmission: handling infected wildanimals, but may be used as an aerosol bioterroristweapon


Reservoir: gorillas and chimpanzees

Transmission: some may be spread person toperson by contact with body secretions

Mortality: Ebola rates have reached 90% but vary

Treatment: supportive

Prevention: Avoid contact with infected monkeys orother animal hosts


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Will we be ready?

Lets look at how South Carolina

responds in the next section

bio terrorism - south carolina at risk (1)

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