Bioterrorism

Paper Summary:

This paper describes the categories of biological agents that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified as posing a significant bioterrorism risk. The paper points out that botulinum toxin produced by the bacteria clostridium botulinum has been tagged by the CDC as being in the highest risk category because it is easily transmitted from one person to another, possess high morbidity rates and has the potential for widespread panic and public chaos. The paper relates that there is a great challenge to health authorities in distinguishing a naturally-occurring botulism outbreak and one that is the result of a terrorist attack because the botulism symptoms from either scenario are the same.

Table of Contents:
Introduction
Clostridium Botulinum and the Botulinum Toxin
Botulism: Background, Pathogenesis and Treatment
Botulism and Bioterrorism
Challenges to Preventing a Botulinum Bioterrorist Attack
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Biological agents used in bioterrorism attacks are commonly found in nature but are often scientifically manipulated in order to increase their potency, their antimicrobial resistance and their dispersal factor. In their campaign to sow their seeds of terror, terrorists have increasingly turned to biological warfare because unlike traditional tactics such as nuclear warfare, biological weapons are inconspicuous and often invisible to the human eye. They remain undetected by authorities during their latent or incubation periods as they slowly infect the majority of the population."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "Bioterrorism Agents/Diseases." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. <November 2007 < http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/agentlist-category.asp>.
• "Botulism Facts for Healthcare Workers." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 4 November 2007 < http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/botulism/hcpfacts.asp>.
• "Botulism." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 4 November 2007 <http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/botulism_g.htm>.
• Taillac, Peter P. "CBRNE-Botulism." E-Medicine.com. 4 November 2007 <http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic64.htm>.
• The Working Group of Civilian Biodefense. "Botulinum as a Biological Weapon." The Journal of the American Medical Association. 4 November 2007 < http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/285/8/1059?>.

More papers on Bioterrorism:

• Analytical Essay # 83897 : "Bioterrorism "
• Term Paper # 100787 : "Bioterrorism"
• Analytical Essay # 9976 : "The Use of Anthrax in Bioterrorism"

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