Bioterrorism Preparedness and Readiness Program
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"Emergency Preparedness for Families of Children with Special Needs."
Norfolk Medical Reserve Corps Information for the General Public
For more information on Bioterrorism Preparedness and Readiness visit the Virginia Department of Health @ http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epi/bio.htm . Links to Related Web Sites:CDC Bioterrorism Agents List
Anthrax as a Biological Weapon
USAMRIID's Medical Management of Biological Casualties
Handbook ACIP Anthrax Vaccine Recommendations
Postal Service (USPS) Emergency Preparedness Plan Preparing for Terrorism: A Family GuideA terrorist attack would likely come without any warning. The best way to prepare is to have a disaster plan in place. Your family should create a plan that includes emergency contacts, identification information, meeting locations, disaster supply kit and more. Be sure to practice your plan. Terrorism does not mean you have to change your life, just be prepared. Identify Meeting Locations: Most families are not together 24 hours a day. You should consider how family members will find each other in a disaster situation. Meeting location points should be identified for the most commonly frequented locations, such as work or school. For example, if a crisis occurs at school, a location for both parents and children to meet should be in your plan. Before, During and After a Terrorist Incident BEFORE
DURING
AFTER
Develop Family Emergency Contact ListPut these contact numbers on your refrigerator and in your wallet or purse:
Family Disaster Plan
Disaster Supply Kit
Fact Sheet on AnthraxWhat is anthrax? Anthrax is a rare infectious disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. It can occur in wild and domestic hoofed animals, especially cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and antelopes. It can also occur in humans when they are exposed to the bacterium. There are three forms of anthrax infection: cutaneous (skin), inhalation (lungs), and gastrointestinal (stomach and intestine). If people have been intentionally exposed, as in a bioterrorist release, breathing in the spores or contact with skin would be the most likely routes of exposure. How common is anthrax and who can get it? Anthrax can be found globally. It is most common in agricultural regions where it occurs in animals. It is more common in developing countries or countries without veterinary public health programs. Anthrax is reported more often in some regions of the world (South and Central America, Southern and Eastern Europe, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East) than in others and is extremely rare in the United States. When anthrax affects humans, it is usually due to an occupational exposure to infected animals or their products. However, anthrax is considered to be one of a number of potential agents for use in biological terrorism. How is anthrax spread? Getting anthrax from another person is very rare. Anthrax
is generally spread through the following three methods: Inhalation - Some anthrax infections occur when people breathe in the spores of the bacteria. (A spore is the form that certain bacteria take in unfavorable growing conditions. When in better conditions, like the human lung, the bacteria will begin to grow and cause disease.) Gastrointestinal - Some people may get anthrax by eating infected meat. What are the symptoms of anthrax? Skin (cutaneous) - First, the exposed skin itches. Then, a large boil-like sore appears. The sore becomes a black scab. If not treated, the infection can spread to the lymph nodes and bloodstream. Inhalation - First, people have cold or flu-type symptoms. These symptoms can get worse, result in serious breathing problems, and cause some people to stop breathing. Gastrointestinal - People may have fever; pain in their
abdomen; loose, watery bowel movements; How soon after exposure would symptoms develop? Symptoms develop between one and seven days after exposure but prolonged periods up to 60 days are possible. Can anthrax be spread person to person? Inhalation (lung) anthrax is not spread from person to person. Even if you develop symptoms of inhalation anthrax, you are not contagious to other persons. If you develop cutaneous (skin) anthrax, the drainage from an open sore presents a low risk of infection to others. The only way cutaneous (skin) anthrax can be transmitted is by direct contact with the drainage from an open sore. Anthrax is not spread from person to person by casual contact, sharing office space, or by coughing and sneezing. How is anthrax diagnosed? Anthrax is diagnosed when the Bacillus anthracis bacterium is found in the blood, skin lesions, or respiratory secretions by a laboratory culture. It can also be diagnosed by measuring specific antibodies in the blood of infected persons. What is the treatment? There are several antibiotics that are used successfully to treat anthrax. The United States has a large supply of these antibiotics and can quickly manufacture even more if needed. Is there a way to prevent infection? Persons exposed to anthrax spores via a bioterrorist act will be given antibiotics to prevent infection. There is a vaccine against anthrax, but it is not generally available, nor is it recommended except for those at high risk, such as laboratory scientists handling the bacterium or members of the armed forces. Do I need to disinfect myself or my belongings if I believe I was exposed to anthrax? Most threats regarding anthrax have proven to be hoaxes. However, in the event of a possible exposure, there are certain actions to take to avoid possible infection. If you have a skin exposure, you can shower with soap and water to reduce the chance of getting the cutaneous or gastrointestinal forms of the disease. Your clothes do not pose any significant health risk to you. Washing the clothes in the regular laundry will safely remove any possible anthrax. You do not need to discard the clothes. To be inhaled, anthrax spores must first be aerosolized (dispersed in the air) which is difficult to do. In the unlikely event that you inhale spores, medical evaluation and treatment is needed. For more information or questions about Anthrax call 757-683-8384. Fact Sheet on Cutaneous AnthraxWhat is cutaneous anthrax? An uncommon cutaneous (skin) infection due to a bacterium (Bacillus anthracis) that is found in the environment and typically causes illlness in animals. Cutaneous (skin) anthrax is marked by a boil-like lesion that eventually forms an ulcer with a black center. How is cutaneous anthrax contracted? The infection occurs when the bacteria enter a cut or scratch in the skin. Most cutaneous anthrax infections occur when people touch animal products (like wool, bone, hair, and hide) that come from an animal that died of anthrax. Can cutaneous anthrax be spread from person to person? If you develop cutaneous anthrax, the drainage from the open sore presents a low risk of infection to others. The only way cutaneous anthrax can be transmitted is by direct contact with the drainage from an open sore. Cutaneous anthrax is not spread from person to person by casual contact, sharing office space, or by coughing and sneezing. How is cutaneous anthrax treated? The cutaneous form of anthrax responds well to several antibiotics. The United States has a large supply of these antibiotics and can quickly manufacture more if needed. With treatment, complete recovery from cutaneous anthrax is usual. How is cutaneous anthrax diagnosed? Cutaneous anthrax is diagnosed when the Bacillus anthracis bacterium is found in the skin lesion by a laboratory culture. It can also be diagnosed by measuring specific antibodies in the blood of persons who are suspected of having infection. Can I die from cutaneous anthrax? Cutaneous anthrax is not usually fatal. If treated with appropriate antibiotics, most individuals make a full recovery. Protocols for Mail HandlingGeneral: Every business and organization should assess and review their
protocols for handling mail. Examine unopened envelopes for foreign bodies or powder. Open letters and packages with a minimum of movement to avoid
spilling any contents. What Types of Letters May be Suspect: Any letter or package that has suspicious or threatening messages written on it Letters with oily stains Envelopes that are lopsided, rigid, bulky, discolored or have a strange odor Envelopes with no return address Unexpected envelopes from foreign countries No postage or non-cancelled postage Improper spelling of common names, places or titles FOR SUSPECT ENVELOPES: DO NOT OPEN THE ENVELOPE OR PACKAGE. LEAVE it and EVACUATE the room. KEEP others from entering. NOTIFY your supervisor, who should call 911 or the local law enforcement authorities. FOR PACKAGES THAT ARE OPENED AND WHICH CONTAIN SUSPICIOUS MATERIAL DO NOT PANIC Anthrax organisms can cause skin infection, gastrointestinal infection or pulmonary infection. To do so, the organism must be rubbed into abraded skin, swallowed, or inhaled as a fine, aerosolized mist. It does not leap into one's body. All forms of disease are generally treatable with antibiotics. Anthrax cannot be easily aerosolized out of an envelope or package containing powder. The same facts and conditions are generally true for other bacteria likely to be considered as biological weapons. CONTAIN THE EXPOSURE Close off the room (doors and windows), do not allow anyone other than qualified emergency personnel to enter. Close the package or envelope to limit additional exposure. Do not clean powder up; keep others away. Do not touch your eyes, nose or any other part of your body. If possible, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water. If clothing is heavily contaminated, don't brush vigorously. If possible, close down the buildings heating/air conditioning/ventilation system. Make a list of all people who had actual contact with the powder for investigating authorities. NOTIFY APPROPRIATE AUTHORITIES Click on Image for Bigger Picture
SmallpoxWhat is smallpox? Smallpox is a serious infectious disease that no longer occurs anywhere in the world. It was caused by a virus called variola. The last naturally acquired case in the world occurred in 1977. Since smallpox has been eliminated from all countries, a single case would be considered an international public health emergency. How was smallpox spread? By close contact with the respiratory discharges of a person with the disease or contact with objects contaminated by an ill individual. What were the symptoms of smallpox? The symptoms of smallpox started with chills, high fever, headache, joint and muscle pains (especially backache), nausea and vomiting. The classic smallpox skin rash appeared several days after the other symptoms. The skin rash became raised and then pus-filled. The pustules ruptured, then dried and crusted over. The rash was painful, most dense on the face, arms, and legs, and caused severe itching and burning. Many people who had this disease died from it, and it left permanent scars on many who survived. Some milder forms of smallpox also occurred. How soon after exposure did symptoms appear? The symptoms appeared from 8-16 days after the exposure, with an average of 10-12 days. How long could an infected person spread smallpox? Infected persons spread the disease until all of the crusts had dropped off the skin and disappeared. This usually happened by about two weeks after the rash began. Smallpox was considered a highly communicable disease, meaning that it was easily spread from one person to another. After having this disease, a person could not get it again. How was it diagnosed? Smallpox was diagnosed by various laboratory tests that detected the virus. What was the treatment for smallpox? Patients with this disease were usually hospitalized, but there was no specific treatment for it. Treatment included keeping the patient as comfortable as possible by keeping the skin clean, trying to control the itching, and relieving the pain and other symptoms as much as possible. Antibiotics were used only if bacterial infections developed as a complication. How could smallpox be prevented? Smallpox has been eradicated because the vaccine was effective and used widely to prevent cases. Isolation of persons with disease, appropriate disinfection of articles that came in contact with patients, and vaccination of contacts helped prevent the spread to others. Today, samples of the virus are held under tight security in only two research laboratories in the worlds. |
