November 16, 2001 The Center For Disease Control has issued two condensed reviews that are related to the recent biological terrorism.
* Investigation of Bioterrorism-Related Anthrax, Update: November 16, 2001 http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5045a2.htm
* Update: Investigation of Anthrax Associated with Intentional
Exposure and Interim Public Health Guidelines, October 2001
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5041a1.htm* Recognition of Illness Associated with the Intentional Release of a
Biologic Agent
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5041a2.htm
Also, the National Library of Medicine has constructed a cluster of links to information on biological and chemical weapons at this URL http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/biologicalandchemicalweapons.html.
This should be pretty authoritative information. I will not have the chance to review much of the contents; and if any of you take the opportunity to do so, I would appreciate receiving a synopsis of important information which you may glean so that I may consolidate it and forward it to this e-mail group. Your reviews can be sent via responding to this e-mail or the e-mail link at { http:www.fis.org }. Particular issues of obvious interest include: 1) how feasible are such weapons and how likely are they to be used; and 2) what preventive and protective measures can individuals and local communities take in case of such an attack? Also, it would be good to know which site(s) would have immediate information in case of an attack in a particular area.
Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response: Biological Diseases, Chemical Agents (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
http:bioterrorism/National Pharmaceutical Stockpile Program Synopsis (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/nps/synopses.htm
TOXNET Databases (National Library of Medicine) - journal citations and data files on toxicology and related subjects
http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/
Anthrax Vaccine (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - links to PDF file
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/vis/downloads/vis-anthrax.pdf
Botulism and Bioterrorism (Draft) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - links to PDF file
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/Agent/Botulism/FactSheet.pdf
Chemical Emergencies (Federal Emergency Management Agency) - links to PDF file
http://usasearch.fema.gov/search?query=chemical+emergencies&op=Search&affiliate=fema
Facts about Pneumonic Plague (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - links to PDF file
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/Agent/Plague/FactSheet.pdf
Mustard Gas (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) Plague (National Center for Infectious Diseases)
http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tf.asp?id=904&tid=184
Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Program (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
http://www.bt.cdc.gov/
U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases
http://www.usamriid.army.mil/