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Bioterrorism The
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
The AHRQ recently unveiled a new Web site (www.bioterrorism.uab.edu)
that teaches hospital-based physicians and nurses how to diagnose
and treat rare infections and exposures to bioterrorist agents
such as anthrax and smallpox.
Designed by researchers in the Center for Disaster Preparedness
at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) under a contract
for AHRQ, the Web site is the first of its kind to offer free continuing education
credits in bioterrorism preparedness to clinicians.
The site currently offers five online courses through the
UAB Office of Continuing Medical Education for emergency department
clinicians, including physicians, nurses, radiologists, pathologists,
and infection control practitioners.
AHRQ
(CME Credit courses):
The AHRQ has
unveiled a new Web site (www.bioterrorism.uab.edu/CEModules-CMEIntroduction/cemodules-
cmeintroduction.htm) to help clinicians diagnose and treat
potential exposure to bioterrorist agents such as anthrax,
smallpox, botulism, tularemia, and viral hemorrahagic fever and
plague.
It hosts five online courses through the University of Alabama Office
of Continuing Medical Education for emergency department personnel,
including physicians, nurses, radiologists, pathologists, and infection
control practitioners. Each course is worth one free
hour of continuing education credit. American
Hospital Association: AHA
Disaster Readiness Advisory #5:
(http://www.aha.org/Emergency/Readiness/MaInterimSmallpox
ResponseUpdate.asp)
Information about the CDC’s Interim Smallpox Response Plan and Guidelines AHA
Disaster Readiness Advisory #4:
(http://www.aha.org/Emergency/Readiness/MaIncidentB1107.asp)
Provides information about the Hospital Emergency Incident
Command System (HEICS), a project of the San Mateo County
(CA) Department
of Health Services' Emergency Medical Services Agency. AHA
Member Advisory: Chemical
and Bioterrorism Preparedness Checklist
(October 3, 2001)
A checklist to help hospitals describe and assess their present
state of preparedness for chemical and biological incidents. Guidelines
for Releasing Information on the Condition of Patients Hospital
Preparedness for Mass Casualties (March 2000) Hospital
Resources for Disaster Readiness The
Oklahoma City Bombing- Lessons Learned by Hospitals Central
Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHS)
Emergency Medical Response Team (EMERT)/
Arkansas Hospital Association
Thinking Through the Unthinkable: Nuclear, Biological and Chemical
(NBC) Training
Center for Civilian
Biodefense Strategies
http://www.hopkins-biodefense.org/index.html
An excellent resource for tabletop exercises, agent background
information, FAQs for the general public, and an antibiotic
guide.
CHEMICAL AGENTS
Chemical Agents: Facts About Evacuation
This page provides key information about evacuation and chemical agent exposure.
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/planning/evacuationfacts.asp
Chemical Agents: Facts About Sheltering in Place
Provides important information about sheltering in place when there has
been exposure to a chemical agent.
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/planning/shelteringfacts.asp
Department
of Health & Human Services
National Terrorism Threat Risk Increased
Last week, the federal Department of Homeland Security increased
the national threat condition for risk of a terrorist attack from
“elevated risk” (yellow) to “high risk” (orange), based on information
received and analyzed by the U.S. intelligence community.
On February 7, Jerome Hauer, Acting Assistant Secretary for Public
Health and Emergency Preparedness, Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS), briefed the nation’s state public health officials
about the increased risk alert. Specific threat agents cited include
botulism and ricin toxins, cyanide, VX and sarin nerve agents, and
radiological dispersion devices (“dirty bombs”).
HHS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are
providing this information to assist the public health community
in increasing their level of preparedness. More information is available
at the CDC Web site (www.cdc.gov).
Additional materials will be posted at the following sites:
For questions, technical
assistance, or to report an event, please call the CDC Emergency
Operations Center at (770) 488-7100. More information will be provided
once additional details are known. Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA)
Hazmat
for Hospitals and BT Readiness Plan for Hospitals
Emerging Infectious Disease Journal Article:
Estimating Time and Size of Bioterror Attack
This article presents a Bayesian approach to estimating the details
of a bioterror attack for use in real time, and is illustrated using
data from a simulated anthrax attack.
HRSA
(Health Resources and Services Administration)
Dirty Bomb Medical Treatment Resource
LABORATORY RESPONSE NETWORK (LRN)
The Laboratory Response Network, Partners in Preparedness
The LRN is charged with the task of maintaining an integrated network of state and local public health, federal, military, and international laboratories that can respond to both bioterrorism and chemical terrorism.
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/lrn/
National Academy Press
Biological
Threats and Terrorism: Assessing the Science and Response Capabilities
In the wake of September 11th and recent anthrax events, our nation's
bioterrorism response capability has become a priority for policymakers,
researchers, public health officials, academia and the private sector.
The Forum on Emerging Infections released a summary of a workshop
in which experts identified, clarified, and discussed the next steps
to prepare and strengthen bio-terrorism response capabilities.
National Pharmaceutical Stockpile
The NPS is a large reserve of antibiotics, chemical antidotes and
other medical supplies set aside for emergencies. The CDC reports
that it has the capacity to move these stockpiled materials to affected
areas in the U.S. within 12 hours of notification. There are a number
of different stockpiles, strategically located around the country.
In addition to the medical supplies already set aside, the federal
government has made agreements with drug manufacturers to make large
amounts of additional emergency medicine.
New
York City Department of Health Response to Terrorist Attack, September
11, 2001
Public
Health Assessment of Potential Biological Terrorism Agents
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
OSHA: The Anthrax
Matrix (November 2001)
Guides employers in assessing risk to their workers, providing appropriate
protective equipment and specifying safe work practices for low,
medium and high-risk levels in the workplace.
Statewide Program for Infection Control and Epidemiology (SPICE)
Printable Wall Chart on Bioterrorist Agents:
www.unc.edu/depts/spice/bioterrorism.html
The North Carolina Statewide Program for Infection Control and
Epidemiology (SPICE), based in the School of Medicine at the University
of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, has developed a wall chart on
bioterrorist agents. It is available in a printer-friendly format
and can be freely printed and used for educational purposes. The
wall chart developed by SPICE provides the following information
for the more likely biological weapons: common presenting signs/symptoms,
communicability, decontamination methods, recommended isolation
precautions, prophylaxis for exposed persons, and therapy. Diseases
included are smallpox, anthrax, plague, and botulism.
United States Air Force
Nuclear, Biologic, and Chemical
Warfare (NBC): A Handbook
for Medical Personnel
www.kumc.edu/mmsa/minutes/nbcwarfare.doc
U.S. Postal Service
Guidelines for dealing with suspicious packages:
www.usps.gov/news/2001/press/pr01_1010tips_print.htm
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