Disaster Preparedness: Biological Threat

Unlike so many other disasters and emergencies, a biological threat is one of the only ones that
can go undetected for a long period of time. Most other emergencies, like natural disasters,
terrorist attacks, or personal emergencies like house fires or cars breaking down, are immediately
noticeable. No one is going to be able to ignore a tornado tearing across the Midwest, or a bomb
going off in a major city. And although it sometimes happens that someone will directly come
across the source of a biological threat, it is much more likely that health care workers will report
a string of unusual or numerous illnesses in a particular area.
Once a biological threat has been noticed, however, health care authorities and local or
even federal governments may not be able to tell people what precautions to take[i]. The
biological threat has to go through extensive testing in all sort of national and sometimes even
international laboratories before the severity of the threat can be determined. And even then, the
most reliable way to determine how severe a threat is is to see how people react to the
contaminant, and then announce an emergency once enough people have been infected to
warrant that plan of action.
Therefore, it is often up to ordinary people to understand the dangers of a biological
threat, and to know what precautions it is important for them or their families to take in case of
such an emergency. There are a few rules that each individual can follow to ensure that they are
as protected as possible until receiving further instructions from authorities.
First, understand that a biological threat must be a deliberate attempt to cause disease or
infection through the use of germs, viruses, bacteria, or other infectious agents[ii]. It is not, for
example, a declared pandemic like the Swine Flu (or the H1N1 virus). Although these illnesses
are dangerous and do require preparation and education to avoid, they are not a deliberate attack.
An example of what is a biological threat would be the Anthrax letters of 2001, after
9/11[iii]. Anthrax cannot be spread from person to person, but when someone comes in contact
with it, as people did with these letters, it can cause a serious and at times fatal illness. In this
case, five people died as a result of contact with the contaminants in the letters, and 17 others
were infected.
While it may be unlikely that someone will randomly receive a letter full of anthrax, a
biological attack grows more and more likely as the world grows more uneasy. And biological
attacks don’t have to be just contaminants in letters, either. They can be a deliberate effort to
spread a virus, like Smallpox or something equally infectious, or even infecting animals or crops
in an attempt to destroy food sources or possibly infect the people who consume that food.
Again, this is why it is so important to be prepared for this sort of emergency. There are
an enormous number of ways and agents that people could use to attempt a biological attack, and
the government may not always know what to do to help prevent it until it’s too late. Sometimes,
as stated, these things can go undetected until enough people are sick.
Once they are detected, however, another part of preparation is understanding the
different levels of threats. The first and most dangerous level is Category A, which includes
toxins that are easily spread from person to person, have a high fatality rate, and require special
action on the part of health professionals to treat and prevent[iv]. Some examples of these
include Anthrax, botulism, and Smallpox.
The second level is Category B, which are toxins that are fairly easy to spread, have low
death rates, and might cause some level of public panic. Included in this category are Salmonella,
Typhus, and any water supply threats.
 Finally, Category C is those threats which are easily available and have a high potential
for high fatality or infection rates. Any emerging toxins that could be engineered to create
disease or death are included in Category C. Once the government declares an official
emergency with a category, it will be simpler for those who understand what each one means to
protect themselves and take necessary precautions for their families.
Once people understand what a biological threat really means, and what the severity of
that threat is, they can start preparing. It is most likely that people will learn of a biological threat
through some sort of medium—television, newspaper, radio, or Internet. Therefore it’s important
to stay updated, although it isn’t necessary to watch the evening news every night to do so. If
there’s a real emergency, then all television and radio stations will feature an emergency
broadcast.
In order to prepare, every person should, of course, have a first aid kit handy in case of
emergencies, and it’s equally important to have one available to prevent infection. Make sure to
constantly disinfect hands and to keep any cuts or lacerations sanitized and covered. It’s also a
good idea to have some masks readily available, and not just for those who aren’t sick.
It has actually been recommended that anyone who has contracted the disease wear a
mask at all times to avoid infecting others[v]. The Ready Store sells vented particulate respirator
face masks that are highly efficient at providing protection against any biological pathogens; this
mask has also received the highest efficiency rating by NIOSH (The National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health). People should also call their doctor before they or anyone in
their family is infected and make certain that all their immunizations are up to date. It’s also
worth considering installing a HEPA air filter in the house. They attach to the central air or
heating, and will filter out most of the biological agents that may enter the house[vi].
In the even that a family member does become infected however, there are things people
can do besides have them wear a mask for safety. It is also important to monitor their symptoms
and be more suspicious of any illness. This doesn’t mean that a cough should send someone into
the E.R., but it does mean that symptoms like a high fever, a rash or infection of the skin, a
stomachache, diarrhea, or vomiting should all be monitored closely. Medical advice should also
be sought, though not necessarily at a hospital. Calling a medical authority should suffice unless
symptoms seem very serious.
Although direct exposure to a toxin is rare, it does happen and it’s important to know
what to do if it happens. First, of course, get away from the toxin as quickly as possible. Don’t
risk any personal safety to remove it; just call toxin or poison control. Someone who’s been in
contact with toxins should remove their clothing and place it in a bag until they can be disposed
of, and then should wash thoroughly with soap and water.
In the event that the unknown agent is released and cannot be removed quickly, wear
either masks or breathe through several layers of cotton (like a folded up t-shirt). While this
won’t remove all the organisms, it has been proven useful in filtering out many of them. If
exposed to the toxin, contact a doctor to discuss isolation, quarantine, and antibiotics, all of
which are useful in preventing and treating disease.
Finally, make certain that once aware of a biological emergency, and once all the
precautions have been taken, people and their families remain updated. Once authorities
determine the severity of the threat, it could change the precautions and procedures that people
need to take to stay safe. This will be useful in finding out if it’s safe to go to public places and
what place, if any are available, to pick up vaccinations or medication[vii]. And, of course,
everyone will want to know when the disease is finally under control and they can breathe easy
again.

[i] http://www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/biological.html. Ready.gov article: Biological Threat Overview.

[ii] http://www.bt.cdc.gov/bioterrorism/overview.asp. CDC.gov article: Bioterrorism Overview.
[iii] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_anthrax_attacks. Wikipedia.org article: 2001 Anthrax Attacks.
[iv] http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/conditions/bioterrorism.html. LabTestsOnline.org article:
Bioterrorism Agents: An Overview.
[v] http://www.ready.gov/america/beinformed/biological_symptoms.html. Ready.gov webpage: Biological Threat:
Symptoms and Hygiene.
[vi] http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/conditions/bioterrorism.html. LabTestsOnline.org article:
Bioterrorism Agents: An Overview.
[vii] http://www.redcrosstc.org/itemDetail.cfm?page=areyoureadyQXZZDDPG. RedCrosstc.org article: Are you
Ready: Biological.