From the Paper
"Botulism is a potentially deadly form of food poisoning which from time to time erupts as a public health issue. This form of food poisoning is caused by an endotoxin produced by the bacillus Clostridium botulinum, and it is ingested in food contaminated by this bacillus. However, it can be acquired in other ways because it is not necessary for the live bacillus to be present for contamination to occur once the toxin has been produced. The toxin has been known to be introduced in rare instances through a wound contaminated by the organism. Botulism differs from most other types of food poisoning because it develops without gastric distress, which means it may not occur for from 18 hours up to one week from the time the contaminated food has been ingested and will be in the body without giving clues during that time. The usual cause is eating improperly canned or cooked food (Mosby's Medical ..."

Abstract
This paper examines the drug Botox ?, which is developed from a highly toxic bacteria that causes botulism. It describes the medical and biological conditions of botulism. The paper illustrates how the drug Botox ? treats wrinkles, migrane headaches, stroke and multiple sclerosis. The author investigates that side effects of the drug and its relatively new FDA approval.

Table of Contents:

Part One: Botox ? ? What is it?
Part Two: Botox ? ? What is it used for?
Part Three: Botox ? ? Can anything bad happen?
Part Four: Botox ? ? Looking toward the future.

From the Paper
"Botox, which is the trade name for botulinum toxin, is produced by a bacterium that has been identified for hundreds of years. Professor Emile Pierre van Ermengem, from Belguim, first identified the bacterium Bascillus botulinus in 1895 (DasGupta). From there, it was later renamed Clostridium botulinum, and is now known as botulinum type A, or Botox."

Tags:toxic, bacteria, botulism, wrinkles, migrane, headaches

Abstract
This paper discusses various historic epidemic diseases, such as the black plague and smallpox. The paper presents a brief history of the use of these diseases as weaponry. Modern-day biological threats, such as anthrax, botulism, tularemia, and Ebola are explored in the paper. The paper explains that the relatively small size of biologic weapons to their large-scale destructive capabilities make them a very real threat in modern warfare and terrorism.

From the Paper
"The Black Plague killed an estimated forty percent of the population of Europe between 1347 and 1427; with some cities and villages experiencing seventy or eighty percent mortality (Herlihy 2, 43). Out of its ashes rose a new understanding of medical science, the European renaissance, as well as a powerful respect for disease. Over five hundred years later Western scientists, armed with post World War II technology, seemed prepared to rid the world of any disease that could threaten humanity. Yet, despite the new weaponry on the side of humans and the heightened optimism of the time, new plagues seemed ready to meet the challenge medical science was the real underdog. During the twentieth century western medicine has gone through several phases, all as responses to immediate medical needs and pervading public worries of the time. Most recently, the threat of bioterrorism has stirred-up many fears that a new plague might ravage our world, and this mindset has demanded a response form the medical community."

Tags:anthrax, eboli, botulism

Abstract
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."

Tags:category, clostridium botulinum, nature, dispersal rate, incubation periods

Abstract
This paper examines health and disease-related issues as they are presented in eight articles in the "Toronto Star". The paper divides the articles into specific health categories depending upon the topic and explores what resolutions to health care problems the articles provide.

From the Paper
"The first article up for discussion is Leslie Ferenc's October 12, 2006, article entitled, "Donors Make Dreams Come True." As the title implies, the story is about donations - albeit not about organ donations but about donations to Canada's Children's Wish Foundation. The article is very fulsome in its praise of the Foundation and touchingly recounts one young mother's experiences with it (R14). The socio-environmental approach to addressing health issues (as mentioned in our course readings) emphasizes the importance of health organizations and communities to maintaining public health, and surely there are few organizations which have given more to help improve the well-being of young palliative care patients (and especially their families) then the Children's Wish Foundation - and surely there are fewer ways by which a community can improve the mental health and well-being of its members than by giving to such an organization."

Tags:mental, health, breast, cancer, botulism, food, safety, nutrition