Plague as a Biological Weapon: Medical and Public Health Management

• NCJ Number: 190376
• Journal: Journal of the American Medical Association Volume: 283 Issue: 17 Dated: May 3, 2000 Pages: 2281-2290
• Author(s): Thomas V. Inglesby M.D.; David T. Dennis M.D.; Donald A. Henderson M.D.; John G. Bartlett M.D.; Michael S. Ascher M.D.; Edward Eitzen M.D.; Anne D. Fine M.D.; Arthur M. Friedlander M.D.; Jerome Hauer M.P.H; John F. Koerner M.P.H; Marcelle Layton M.D.; Joseph McDade Ph.D.; Michael T. Osterholm Ph.D.; Tara O'Toole M.D.; Gerald Parker Ph.D.; Trish M. Perl M.D.; Philip K. Russell M.D.; Monica Schoch-Spana P.h.D; Kevin Tonat DrPH
• Date Published: May 2000
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Technical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Downloaded September 20, 2001

Annotation

This article discusses plague as a biological weapon.

Abstract

The Working Group on Civilian Biodefense has developed consensus-based recommendations for measures to be taken by medical and public health professionals following the use of plague as a biological weapon against a civilian population. The working group included 25 representatives from major academic medical centers and research, government, military, public health, and emergency management institutions and agencies. Research included a search of MEDLINE databases from January 1966 through January 2000. The group found that an aerosolized plague weapon could cause fever, cough, chest pain, and hemoptysis with signs consistent with severe pneumonia 1 to 6 days after exposure. Rapid evolution of disease would occur in the 2 to 4 days after symptom onset and would lead to septic shock with high mortality without early treatment. Early treatment and prophylaxis with streptomycin or gentamicin or the tetracycline or fluoroquinolone classes of antimicrobials would be advised. The group found no evidence to suggest that residual plague bacilli posed an environmental threat to the population following the dissolution of the primary aerosol. The article discusses, among other topics, diagnosis, vaccination, therapy, infection control, and environmental decontamination. Figures, tables, references