American Medical Association Family Medical Guide - American Medical Association [27]
Biological Attacks
It is unlikely that a bioterrorist attack would be widespread, at least initially, but some biological agents (such as smallpox) can spread from person to person once they enter a population. Biological agents are expensive and difficult to produce, require technical skill and special equipment to handle, and are difficult to deploy. The biological agents on the following page have been identified as those most likely to be used in a bioterrorist attack. If an attack has occurred and you develop symptoms, see a doctor immediately. Rapid detection and treatment are essential for survival.
Anthrax
Possible use as a biological weapon: Envelopes or packages containing anthrax can be sent through the mail, or released as an aerosol in an enclosed space or over a city.
Cause: The bacterium Bacillus anthracis.
Prevention: No vaccine is currently available for routine use for the general public. People exposed to anthrax who have not yet developed symptoms are given antibiotics along with the anthrax vaccine to prevent infection.
Incubation period: Symptoms usually develop within 7 days.
Symptoms:
Cutaneous (skin) anthrax: A small, painless bump that becomes a painless blister; the blister becomes a painless open sore with a black scab in the center.
Inhalation anthrax: Initial symptoms resemble cold or flu symptoms, including sore throat, mild fever, muscle aches, cough, or fatigue. Later symptoms include rapid pulse and severe difficulty breathing. Inhalation anthrax is often fatal.
Treatment: A 60-day course of treatment with antibiotics. The person is kept as comfortable as possible.
Botulinum toxin
Possible use as a biological weapon: Could be released as an aerosol in an enclosed space or over a city. Most potent known nerve toxin.
Cause: Toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
Prevention: No vaccine is currently available for the general public.
Incubation period: Symptoms usually develop within 1 to 5 days.
Symptoms: Muscle weakness, double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, muscle weakness or paralysis, or respiratory failure.
Treatment: Botulism antitoxin stops progression of the disease. The person is kept as comfortable as possible. Breathing may be assisted with a ventilator.
Tularemia
Possible use as a biological weapon: Could be released as an aerosol in an enclosed space or over a city.
Cause: The bacterium Francisella tularensis.
Prevention: No vaccine is currently available for the general public.
Incubation period: Symptoms usually develop within 3 to 5 days (but can take as long as 14 days).
Symptoms: Sudden fever, chills, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, dry cough, weakness, severe difficulty breathing, or pneumonia.
Treatment: A 10- to 14-day course of treatment with antibiotics. The person is kept as comfortable as possible. Breathing may be assisted with a ventilator.
Hemorrhagic fevers
(Ebola, Marburg, Lassa, New World Arenaviridae, Rift Valley, Hantavirus, yellow fever, and others)
Possible use as a biological weapon: Could be released as an aerosol in an enclosed space or over a city. Most can be transmitted from person to person by inhaling infected droplets coughed into the air or through contact with infected body fluids.
Cause: A number of different viruses.
Prevention: Vaccine for yellow fever only. Avoid contact with infected people.
Incubation period: Depending on the virus, symptoms usually develop within 2 to 3 weeks (but can appear as quickly as within a few days or as long as 2 months).
Symptoms: Depending on the virus, initial symptoms usually include fever, fatigue, dizziness, muscle aches, weakness, and exhaustion. Symptoms can also include bleeding under the skin or from body openings, internal bleeding, shock, seizures, or kidney failure.
Treatment: Ribavirin (an antiviral drug) is available for Lassa fever virus, New World Arenaviruses, and Rift Valley fever virus. The person is kept as comfortable as possible. Some hemorrhagic