FMMS PRIMER ON BIOTERRORISM

Recent events have re-alerted us to potential threats of Bioterrorism. Bioterrorism is defined by the CDC as "The intentional or threatened use of viruses, bacteria, fungi, toxins from living organisms, or other chemicals, to produce death or disease in humans, animals or plants".

This document is designed to be an overview – a primer – on Bioterrorism in Fresno-Madera County. It provides a brief summary of clinically relevant information dealing with the recognition, reporting, treatment and infection control/public health implications of several of the potential biological and chemical agents that could be utilized. It is being sent to every physician in Fresno-Madera County.

It is not designed to be a technical reference document. We have included phone numbers on Page 2, and Web sites at the end of the document, for you to get more detailed information. We have also posted a number of technical documents to our Web Site, www.FMMS.org.

Responding appropriately to Bioterrorism is a three step process: Identify, Report, and Refer:

• Identify – we want you, as a result of this document, to be aware of the symptoms of Bioterrorism, to know the appropriate tests, and to know some of the differential diagnoses.
• Report – we want you to be able to contact the correct agencies and be able to initiate the cascade of pre-programmed responses by public agencies.
• Refer – we want you to be able to refer victims of Bioterrorism to those who know how to treat them and to refer the media to those who know the most about this subject.

DO’s - What do we want you to do?

• Read the material.
  • If you are so inclined, check out the web sites for additional reading or research.
  • If you are so inclined, check out the FMMS web site for detailed Fact Sheets.
• Be extra vigilant with your patients.
• Share this information with your patients – allay their fears.
• Understand the probabilities associated with Bioterrorism and the limits of the Bioterrorism agents.
• Refer the media to the experts.
• If in doubt, ask County Public Health– THEY HAVE THE ANSWERS!
• Sign up on the EMAN Web site to electronically connect you to the County Emergency Medical Alert Network (see the “Subscribe to EMAN” section on the Web site.

DON’Ts – What do we not want you to do?

• Prescribe antibiotics inappropriately.
• Stockpile antibiotics.
• Recommend the use of gas masks.