NCJ Number
189892
Journal
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Volume: 49 Issue: RR-4 Dated: April 21, 2000 Pages: 1-26
Date Published
April 2000
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This document highlights a strategic plan to address the deliberate dissemination of biological or chemical agents.
Abstract
Terrorist incidents in the United States and elsewhere involving bacterial pathogens, nerve gas, and a lethal plant toxin have demonstrated that the United States is vulnerable to biological and chemical threats as well as explosives. In the past, most planning for emergency response to terrorism has been concerned with overt attacks. Chemical terrorism acts are likely to be overt because the effects of chemical agents absorbed through inhalation or by absorption through the skin or mucus membranes are usually immediate and obvious. Such attacks elicit immediate response from police, fire, and emergency medical service personnel. Because the initial detection of such an attack will probably occur at the local level, disease surveillance systems at State and local health agencies must be capable of detecting unusual patterns of disease or injury. The key focus areas of the strategic plan of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are preparedness and prevention; detection and surveillance; diagnosis and characterization of biological and chemical agents; response; and communication. Implementation will require collaboration with State and local public health agencies, as well as with other groups including medical research centers, medical examiners, Federal agencies, and international organizations. Recommendations include extending the national laboratory response network to include facilities in all 50 States; and making well-trained health-care and public health workers available in every State. 8 references