Abstract
This work is going to develop a topic of a bioterrorism including questions how this action may affect society and authorities, mainly – Public Health (e.g. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – CDC).
As an example will be provided several scenarios – diseases to explain what is bioterrorism and how to react it.
Using scenario in Public Health methods is a method for anticipating possible alternative situations in the future (Neiner J., 2012). Planning and analyzing different possibilities of social health menace, allows planners (CDC) to anticipate problems, reevaluate assumptions, and reflect on consequences of those alternative futures. Considering a problem of bioterrorism, planning helps to define a level of scale of the attack (individual, community, regional, national),how may the analysis be integrated with commonly used public health tools, and how may the planning be adopted to different situations (World Future Society, 2012).
It is deeply important and rather possible to protect the nation from bioterrorism. It is a part of national defense and welfare.
Introduction
To begin with, common terrorism refers to the use or threat of force or violence against people or property. Bioterrorism is a criminal act against unsuspecting civilians using pathogenic biological agents, such as biological warfare agents (Prof. Nicolson G.,2012).
Biological attack releases viruses, bacteria, or other germs to cause illness or death, as usual of the community or nation (CDC, 2012).
Ways of bioterrorism may vary depending on the reason of the attack. It may be a pollution of local environment (local water resources, air, vegetation), poisoning of local fauna, or cultivating and spreading diseases among the individuals.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2012), there are three general categories of biological attacks – A, B and C.
Category A represents the agents which can be easily transmitted and disseminated; they result in high mortality and have potential major public health impact. May cause public panic and require medical interference. E.g. Tularemia, Anthrax, Smallpox, Botulinum toxin, Bubonic plague, viral fevers.
Category B are second highest priority agents which are moderately easy to disseminate and have low mortality rates. E.g. Brucellosis, Epsilon toxin, food safety threats (e.g. salmonella species), glanders etc.
Category C includes available, easy to produce and disseminate agents which cause high mortality rate or ability to cause a major health impact. E.g. HIV/AIDS, H1N1, Nipah virus.
The main issue
Bioterrorism is a concern of the Public Health and government as well. According to the Public Law 107–296—Nov. 25, 2002, p.593 there is an act to improve the ability of the United States to prevent, prepare for, and respond to bioterrorism and other public health emergencies. The preparedness has been made a national priority. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have worked with states and local health departments to identify and to respond to bioterrorism for several years. The federal response to bioterrorism includes medications, medical supplies, and if necessary, vaccines to protect an affected community. Thus, there is an important function and duty of the Public Health Organization to prevent bioterrorism or to make certain actions in case of attack.
Lillibridge …