1. Bioterrorism Part 2

Front 1

What is smallpox?

Back 1

It is a viral disease caused by the variola virus
-It is the only human disease to be eradicated worldwide thorugh use of vaccine
-Stocks of variola virus are kept in secure facilities
-Outbreaks of smallpox can be contained by extensive immunization

Front 2

What is Yersinia pestis?

Back 2

-Gram negative bacteria
-Causes bubonic plague
-Capable of blocking phagocytosis and multiples in lymph nodes

Front 3

What is Botulism toxin?

Back 3

-Protein toxin made by Clostridium botulinum, a gram positive, spore forming rod
-Most potent toxin known
-Used in the comestic industry (BoTox) to eliminate wrinkles in the skin
-Used as a powerful neurotoxin to treat severely spstic muscles

Front 4

C. botulinum

Back 4

-Common soil bacterium and can potentially contaminate a variety of foods

Front 5

What are the concerns with botuilsim toxin as a bioterrorist agent?

Back 5

-Main concerns have been with contamination of the food and water supplies with botulinum toxin
-Most experts have discounted deliverly of toxin through water supply
-Toxin would be highly diluted and it would likely stick to particulates that are in the water
-Food supply is the greater concern since large number of bacteria can be ingested
-Botulinum toxin is easily detectable and food industry

Front 6

Is society helpless to threat of biological warfare?

Back 6

No
1) We understand how disease is spread, and know how to prevent spread of disease
2) We can administer antibiodies from human donors or animal donors to bolster immune system of victims
3) We have vaccines for many of the agents
4) We have antibiotics that can be used to treat bacterial infections
5) Public health officals are rarely in a situation where there is only one defence against a pathogen.