Bioterrorism

Running Head: Bioterrorism Attack 1
Bioterrorism Attack
Community & Public Health


Bioterrorism Attack 2
Bioterrorism Attack
ERBC (2007) website states that: A bioterrorism attack is the deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, or other germs used to cause illness or death in people, animals, or plants (ERBC, 2007). Bioterrorism agents can be separated into three categories, depending how easily they can be spread. These categories are as followed: category A, which is considered the highest risk, category B, and category C, which is the third highest category.
The world’s ability to respond to bioterrorism rest largely in states public health system. Although, much of the action that is taken comes from the federal level. Garfield (2005) states that:
States hold primary responsibility for organizing public health and bioterrorism preparedness activities. Some states delegate authority to local health agencies while others maintain a centralized approach. Generally, states take the lead in many detection activities. They provide advanced laboratory capacity and epidemiological expertise, coordinate and direct-surveillance, led planning and coordination efforts among localities, law enforcement, providers, and other state agencies, and advise on diagnosis, treatment, or remediation of hazardous conditions. States also provide and funnel funding to local efforts (Garfield, 2005).
Anthrax is considered to be a bioterrorism threat mainly, because it can be created easily in a lab, and is very durable. Spores of anthrax can lie dormant for years entering a living
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host, where they reactivate and multiply. For these reasons, anthrax is considered a bioterrorism weapon. More recently anthrax has been used in bioterrorism attacks in both Japan and the United States (Palemo, 2013). State and localities apply for annually for funding by submitting a detailed work plan to the agencies....