NCJ Number
189903
Editor(s)
Mark Kortepeter,
George Christopher,
Ted Cieslak,
Randall Culpepper,
Robert Darling,
Julie Pavin,
John Rowe,
Kelly McKee Jr.,
Edward Eitzen Jr.
Date Published
February 2001
Length
138 pages
Annotation
This handbook provides information on the medical management of a biological attack, and the use of epidemiologic clues in determining whether an outbreak might have been intentionally spread.
Abstract
Effective medical countermeasures are available against many of the bacteria, viruses, and toxins which might be used as biological weapons against military forces or civilian communities. With a covert biological agent attack, the most likely first indicator of an event would be an increased number of patients presenting with clinical features caused by the disseminated disease agent. A sound epidemiologic investigation of a disease outbreak will assist medical personnel in identifying the pathogen, as well as instituting appropriate medical interventions. Many diseases caused by biological agents present with nonspecific clinical features that could be difficult to diagnose and recognize as a biological attack. The first step is to confirm that a disease outbreak has occurred. Once the attack rate has been determined, the outbreak can be described by time, place, and person -- crucial information in determining the potential source of the outbreak. Clues that a biological or terrorist attack has occurred include many cases of unexplained diseases or death, unusual diseases for a given geographic area or season, and disease that is unusual for an age group. Medical management of biological casualties on the battlefield includes maintaining an index of suspicion, assessing the patient, establishing a diagnosis, rendering prompt treatment, and alerting the proper authorities. 11 appendices