- Section 1 The development of the discipline of public health
- Section 2 Determinants of health and disease
- Section 3 Public health policies, law, and ethics
- Section 4 Information systems and sources of intelligence
- Section 5 Epidemiological and biostatistical approaches
- Section 6 Social science techniques
- Section 7 Environmental and occupational health sciences
- Section 8 Major health problems
- 8.1 Epidemiology and prevention of cardiovascular disease
- 8.2 Cancer epidemiology and public health
- 8.3 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma
- 8.4 Obesity
- 8.5 Physical activity and health
- 8.6 Diabetes mellitus
- 8.7 Public mental health and suicide
- 8.8 Dental public health
- 8.9 Musculoskeletal disorders
- 8.10 Neurological diseases, epidemiology, and public health
- 8.11 Infectious diseases and prions
- 8.12 Sexually transmitted infections
- 8.13 HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
- 8.14 Tuberculosis
- 8.15 Malaria
- 8.16 Chronic hepatitis and other liver disease
- 8.17 Emerging and re-emerging infections
- 8.18 Bioterrorism
- Section 9 Prevention and control of public health hazards
- Section 10 Public health needs of population groups
- Section 11 Public health functions
(p. 1206) Bioterrorism
- Chapter:
- (p. 1206) Bioterrorism
- Author(s):
Nicholas S. Kelley
and Michael T. Osterholm
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780199661756.003.0218
History shows us that individuals have used and likely will continue to use biological agents for terrorism purposes. Bioterrorism agents can be easily disseminated, cause severe disease and high mortality rates if cases are not treated properly, and pose significant challenges for management and response. A robust public health surveillance system that includes laboratory (including routine reportable disease surveillance), syndromic, and environmental surveillance is crucial for detection of the release of a bioterrorism agent and the resulting cases. This detection can then set into motion a robust and comprehensive public health response to minimize morbidity and mortality. A large-scale bioterrorism event would be unprecedented, straining and challenging every facet of medical and public health response and would quickly become a global emergency because of both the potential risk of infection and the shock to the global economy. A robust public health and medical workforce is necessary to respond effectively and efficiently to these types of events.
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- Section 1 The development of the discipline of public health
- Section 2 Determinants of health and disease
- Section 3 Public health policies, law, and ethics
- Section 4 Information systems and sources of intelligence
- Section 5 Epidemiological and biostatistical approaches
- Section 6 Social science techniques
- Section 7 Environmental and occupational health sciences
- Section 8 Major health problems
- 8.1 Epidemiology and prevention of cardiovascular disease
- 8.2 Cancer epidemiology and public health
- 8.3 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma
- 8.4 Obesity
- 8.5 Physical activity and health
- 8.6 Diabetes mellitus
- 8.7 Public mental health and suicide
- 8.8 Dental public health
- 8.9 Musculoskeletal disorders
- 8.10 Neurological diseases, epidemiology, and public health
- 8.11 Infectious diseases and prions
- 8.12 Sexually transmitted infections
- 8.13 HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
- 8.14 Tuberculosis
- 8.15 Malaria
- 8.16 Chronic hepatitis and other liver disease
- 8.17 Emerging and re-emerging infections
- 8.18 Bioterrorism
- Section 9 Prevention and control of public health hazards
- Section 10 Public health needs of population groups
- Section 11 Public health functions