Bioterrorism
represents a real threat for the community. Bioterrorism may occur as covert
events, in which persons are unknowingly exposed and an outbreak is suspected
only upon recognition of unusual disease clusters or symptoms. Bioterrorism
may also occur as announced events, in which persons are warned that an exposure
has occurred. As of 1 November, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) ha reported a cumulative total of 16 confimed case of anthrax. A comprehensive
public health response to bioterrorism involves epidemiological investigation,
medical treatment and prophylaxis of affected individuals, and the institution
of disease prevention or environmental decontamination measures. Agent identification
and confirmatory diagnoses of potential bioterrorism agents is critical to
ensure prevention and treatment measures can be implemented quickly. Since
few of the agents thought likely to be used as biological weapons represent
major public health problems in industrialized countries, current capacity
to diagnose them is limited. Four diseases with recognized bioterrorism potential
(anthrax, botulism, smallpox and plague) and the agents responsible for them
are described. Additional agents, like haemorragic fevers, tularaemia, brucellosis
could be used ad biological weapons. Medical doctors of western countries
should be aware that epidemics deliberately caused my occur and that early
detection of cases is crucial to minimize the effects.
