MHE507 - Bio-Terrorism, Module 3 - SLP, Bio-Terrorism preparedness and Essay

MHE507 - Bio-Terrorism, Module 3 - SLP, Bio-Terrorism preparedness and response - Essay Example Cases that involve air, however, are much harder to prevent, since air moves freely and unbarred anywhere. Since late 1992, a number of large, complex outbreaks have occurred in the United States. These include the epidemic of over 400,000 cases of waterborne cryptosporidiosis in Milwaukee, the outbreak of severe, unexplained acute respiratory disease now known as hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in the Spring of 1993, the nationwide foodborne salmonellosis outbreak caused by contaminated ice cream that accounted for an estimated 250,000 cases in the fall of 1994, and the increasing problems posed by antimicrobial-resistant organisms in community and health-care settings. Epidemics of plague in India, Ebola hemorrhagic fever in Central Africa, avian (H5N1) influenza in Hong Kong, Hendra virus infection in Australia, and Nipah virus infection recently in Malaysia and Singapore required an international response. During the hantavirus, plague, and Ebola investigations, concerns regarding the possibility of bioterrorism were raised early in the investigations, though these concerns were not su pported by subsequent findings. Attacks are intentionally created to threaten individuals, or the government, to surrender to the needs and conditions of the attackers. And with bioterrorism as the tool, nobody is safe; nobody can run away, and nobody can be excluded. Not even the government or other high officials are safe if bioterrorism tools are to be used against them. What does the government do about bioterrorism? And what should be really done? One question at the break of an attack is this: Should the case be isolated, or should the information be disseminated? During an attack, the government has two options: to isolate the case and work on it privately, or to let the public know about it. The first case is done to prevent massive panic, which can heighten the fear of the masses. However, in the second case, where the people are aware of