Resources & FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Bioterrorist Agents
- What biological substances pose the greatest danger in the hands of bioterrorists, and what's a good source of up-to-date information about them?
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Look to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for accessible online information on Category A biological disease/agents. These are defined as organisms that pose a risk to national security because "they can be easily disseminated or transmitted from person to person; result in high mortality rates and have the potential for major public health impact; might cause public panic and social disruption; and require special action for public health preparedness."
Category A biological agents include:
- Where's up-to-date information on major chemical threats to public health, such as mustard gas?
- Find CDC information at: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/Agent/agentlistchem.asp
- How about radiological attacks—are plans being developed for that?
- The National Center for Environmental Health provides emergency response information to the CDC. View it at: http://www.bt.cdc.gov/radiation/index.asp
- Course Information
Courses are offered onsite, via CD ROM and online. Courses include didactic presentations, case studies, tabletop exercises and simulations.
Continuing medical, nursing and health educator credit is available for most courses, as specified on course materials.
Resources
National Public Health Preparedness Referral Service
The University of Michigan Office of Research Communications maintains an online resource on the subject of Counterterrorism and related federal granting agencies, links, publications, agendas, meetings, and updates.
Quick List of Links by Acronym
| OSLDPS Office for State and Local Domestic Preparedness Support |
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DMORT Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team |
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Relevant Websites
International and U.S. Government Sites
- World Health Organization Site: Health Aspects of Biological and Chemical Weapons
- Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; resource information and continuing education about rare infections and potential bioterrist agents
- CDC, Public Health Emergency Response and Preparedness
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Bioterrorism
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- Federal Emergency Management Agency
- National Disaster Medical System
- CDC, National Center for Infectious Diseases; alphabetized listing of infectious diseases, with definitions, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention information
- CDC, National Pharmaceutical Stockpile Site
- Terrorism Preparedness Compendium
- U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventative Medicine, Biological Threats Information Page
- US Postal Service Site on Safety and Security of the Mail
University Websites
- Center for the Study of Bioterrorism, St. Louis University
- The Harvard Sussex Program on Chemical and Biological Warfare Armament and Arms Limitation
- Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota
- Center for Civilian Biosecurity at the University of Pittsburgh
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
- UCLA School of Public Health Epidemiological Information about Bioterrorism
Professional Society and Assocation Sites
- Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc
- American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine-Bioterrorism Resources
- American Dental Association-Bioterrorism
- Infectious Diseases Society of America, Bioterrorism Information and Resources
- American Medical Association Center for Public Health Preparedness and Disaster Response
- America's Health Together
- Chemical and Biological Arms Control Institute
- Federation of American Scientists Biological and Chemical Weapons Control
- National Association of County and City Health Officials
- Medical Library Association Bioterrorism Bibliography and Resources
Journal and Publication Sites
- New Scitentist Magazine Bioterrorism and Bioweapons news and information
- Emerging Infectious Disease Journal— articles on bioterrorism are linked on the homepage
- Chemical and Biological Defense Information Analysis Center Newsletters
- The Journal of the American Medical Association, Bioterrorism Articles