Bioterrorism Research Paper

Bioterrorism: How it Relates to the Health Field

Bioterrorism is an increasing problem that we are faced with into today’s society, with one of the more recently known outbreaks being Ebola virus hemorrhagic fever. Bioterrorism is defined as an attack on humans, plants, and animals that is caused by deliberately released viruses, bacteria, or other germs called agents to cause illness or death. Bioterrorism has many dangers that affect health care, and several ways we can confront and eliminate bioterrorism as well with several federal programs in place to help with the preparedness of health care facilities. There are also different types and categories of bioterrorism.

There are three different categories of bioterrorism Category A being a high priority because they can be spread easily from person to person, have high mortality rate and affect public health, and the public has to be specially prepared. Category B which is fairly easy to spread, has low death rates, modest illness rate, and require specific enhancements of CDC’s laboratory capacity. Finally, there is Category C which is pathogens that could be engineered for bioterrorism because they are easy to obtain, easy to make and spread, and have the potential to have a high impact on society, and a possibly have

death rate.
There are many different bioterrorism agents that cause various diseases, some more common and easy to treat than others.

Salmonella species, staphylococcal enterotoxin B are both agents that cause food poisoning, and influenza virus which causes influenza. Anthrax is one that can be prevented, but can be obtained by having contact with animals infected with bacillus anthracis and their products. Smallpox is not around anymore since it’s vaccine but it once was a bioterrorism disease that was caused by Variola major. Another disease is the black death from the middle ages that was caused by Yersinia pestis. Bioterrorism dates back to the middle ages, but it is still present today and

evolving.
In the United States there are various federal programs in place that help with the preparedness of hospitals in case an outbreak were to take place. There is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention program that gives money to states that are developing infrastructures and training workers with new technology for bioterrorism. Health Resources Services Administration provides money to states that have victims of bioterrorism and other health emergencies. The Federal Emergency Management Agency which improves emergency preparedness systems and brings together federal and state agencies to provide medical teams, supplies and equipment to hospitals that are integrating bioterrorism plans. Another is the Department of Homeland Security that has a warning system in place that can detect trace amounts of biological matters in the air.
Bioterrorism effects health care systems because hospitals have to have a person assigned that in case a disease spread to a whole nation that person talks to other personal and government officials. Health care facilities need a plan and system in place that is always up to date with equipment.