Preparing for Bioterrorism
By Mike Kennamer, MPA, NREMT-P,Northeast Alabama Community College

The use of biological weapons is nothing new. More than 2,000 years ago Sythian archers dipped the heads of their arrows in rotting corpses and manure in an attempt to infect their enemies. In the French and Indian War, the British gave unfriendly tribes blankets laced with smallpox. In World War II, the Japanese killed hundreds by dropping plague-infested fleas over Chinese cities.

While the type of weapons used in biological warfare is nothing new, the method of delivery and purpose for their use is markedly different when placed in the hands of terrorists. Biological warfare, as described above, involves the intentional use of bacteria, viruses, or toxins to cause death or disease in humans, plants, or animals. It is state-sponsored and usually delivered in large quantities in an effort to win a war.

Biological terrorism, or bioterrorism, is the intentional or threatened use of biological agents to make a statement or to undermine authority. It usually involves a small quantity of agent that can be released at any time, in any location, and against any target. This uncertainty is the reason EMS providers must be aware of bioterrorism threats.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) place biological weapons in three categories, labeled A, B, and C, depending on their ability to cause harm. Category A weapons, which present the greatest threat, include anthrax, botulism, plague, smallpox, tularemia, and viral hemorrhagic fevers. Category B agents are second priority agents that are relatively easy to disseminate, result in moderate morbidity rates and low mortality rates, and require specific enhancements to the CDC’s capabilities. Category C agents include those that could be engineered for mass dissemination in the future.

As an EMS provider, you should be aware of the risk of bioterrorism and understand how to protect yourself from biological threats. Due to the nature of biological terrorism it is difficult, if not impossible, to predict such attacks. The methods of terrorists are as varied as their motivations. The best defense is to constantly be alert and use caution when responding to potential attacks.

EMS providers should also be familiar with and preplan the locations in their area that may become terrorist targets. Preplanning with fire and law enforcement agencies is especially helpful. Additionally, a functional knowledge of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) is necessary since multiple agencies (local, state, and federal) are needed to deal with such incidents.

For more information on biological terrorism, visit the CDC Web site at http://www.cdc.gov and click on “Emergency Preparedness and Response”.

More information on NIMS may be accessed from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Web site at http://www.fema.gov/nims.

Visit Thomson Delmar Learning for additional resources on terrorism.

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