PICARDO, Oliver F.

BSN 1-R

MICROBIOLOGY (LEC):

BIOTERRORISM

SUMMARY:

First of all, we can never really diagnose a disease that fast. It is an outbreak but, there can be
preventions on the spread of that particular disease. But what is bioterrorism? Bioterrorism is the
release of a disease or toxic biological agent. Bioterrorism is a form of terrorism where there is the
intentional release of biological agents. Many biological agents are found in nature; however, they can
be modified by the terrorist to make them more dangerous. Some of these agents can be transmitted
from person to person, and the infection may take hours or days to become apparent. While any germ,
bacteria, or virus could potentially be utilized by terrorist, there are a number of biological agents that
have been recognized as being more likely to be utilized. The reason for these agents being of concern is
based on their availability to terrorists and the ease by which these agents can be disseminated

DISEASES:

Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis)

Arenaviruses

Bacillus anthracis (anthrax)

Botulism (Clostridium botulinum toxin)

Brucella species (brucellosis)

Brucellosis (Brucella species)

Burkholderia mallei (glanders)

Burkholderia pseudomallei (melioidosis)

Chlamydia psittaci (psittacosis)

Cholera (Vibrio cholerae)

Clostridium botulinum toxin (botulism)

Clostridium perfringens (Epsilon toxin)

Coxiella burnetii (Q fever)

Ebola virus hemorrhagic fever

E. coli O157:H7 (Escherichia coli)

Emerging infectious diseases such as Nipah virus and hantavirus

Epsilon toxin of Clostridium perfringens

Escherichia coli O157:H7 (E. coli)

Food safety threats (e.g., Salmonella species, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Shigella)

Francisella tularensis (tularemia)

Glanders (Burkholderia mallei)

Lassa fever

Marburg virus hemorrhagic fever

Melioidosis (Burkholderia pseudomallei)

Plague (Yersinia pestis)

Psittacosis (Chlamydia psittaci)

Q fever (Coxiella burnetii)

Ricin toxin from Ricinus communis (castor beans)

Rickettsia prowazekii (typhus fever)

Salmonella species (salmonellosis)

Salmonella Typhi (typhoid fever)

Salmonellosis (Salmonella species)

Shigella (shigellosis)

Shigellosis (Shigella)

Smallpox (variola major)

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B

Tularemia (Francisella tularensis)

Typhoid fever (Salmonella Typhi)

Typhus fever (Rickettsia prowazekii)

Variola major (smallpox)

Vibrio cholerae (cholera)

Viral encephalitis (alphaviruses [e.g., Venezuelan equine encephalitis, eastern equine encephalitis,
western equine encephalitis])

Viral hemorrhagic fevers (filoviruses [e.g., Ebola, Marburg] and arenaviruses [e.g., Lassa, Machupo])

Water safety threats (e.g., Vibrio cholerae, Cryptosporidium parvum)

Yersinia pestis (plague)

REFLECTION:

I learned a lot about this “bioterrorism.” This is one of the most interesting topics I have read on but, it is
very dangerous. This is because using bacteria, germs, and viruses to infect a group of people is not
really ethical. Not only can they release any form of disease but, they can utilize these to make
weapons. How will this affect us? Well, it can and will affect us because it is a release of a disease. Once
we get affected, we will never know what will happen. Not only will there be physical change but we will
be emotionally unstable. We will live in fear because of the released disease. What do we need if ever
this happens in our country? We are going to need water, food, items for infants, items for seniors,
kitchen items, battery-powered gadgets, first aid kit, clothing, blankets, hygiene items, and other
essential items. Now we have what we need but, how do we prevent this? Studies must be done to
develop decision rules and procedures for quarantine. Because once we have researched and
determined this then, we can make the first move(stop the spread of the disease).

What is bioterrorism? Based on what I searched bioterrorism refers to biological agents (microbes or
toxins) used as weapons to further personal or political agendas. For me, this is very dangerous because
it will not only affect me but, also everyone else. Acts of bioterrorism range from a single exposure
directed at an individual by another individual to government-sponsored biological warfare resulting in
mass casualties. This very dangerous because we will never know what will happen if a disease is
released. When preventing this, it will be very hard because we will not be able to tell what specific
disease is present. An attack may be difficult to distinguish from a naturally occurring infectious disease
outbreak. Although, we can prevent this through vaccination. What do we need if ever this happens in
our country? We are going to need water, food, items for infants, items for seniors, kitchen items,
battery-powered gadgets, first aid kit, clothing, blankets, hygiene items, and other essential items.

SUMMARY:

What is bioterrorism? It refers to biological agents used as weapons to further personal or political
agendas. Bioterrorism is the releasing of a disease that will affect a popularity. Bioterrorism is a form of
terrorism where there is the intentional release of biological agents. Many biological agents are found in
nature; however, they can be modified by the terrorist to make them more dangerous. Many biological
agents are found in nature; however, they can be modified by the terrorist to make them more
dangerous. Some of these agents can be transmitted from person to person, and the infection may take
hours or days to become apparent.