Bioterrorism, Controlled Substances, and Public Health Issues

Bioterrorism, Controlled Substances, and Public Health Issues PDF Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Energy and Commerce. Subcommittee on Health
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 168

Get Book

Book Description

Bioterrorism, Controlled Substances, and Public Health Issues

Bioterrorism, Controlled Substances, and Public Health Issues PDF Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Energy and Commerce. Subcommittee on Health
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 168

Get Book

Book Description


Forging a Poison Prevention and Control System

Forging a Poison Prevention and Control System PDF Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309091942
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 369

Get Book

Book Description
Poisoning is a far more serious health problem in the U.S. than has generally been recognized. It is estimated that more than 4 million poisoning episodes occur annually, with approximately 300,000 cases leading to hospitalization. The field of poison prevention provides some of the most celebrated examples of successful public health interventions, yet surprisingly the current poison control "system" is little more than a loose network of poison control centers, poorly integrated into the larger spheres of public health. To increase their effectiveness, efforts to reduce poisoning need to be linked to a national agenda for public health promotion and injury prevention. Forging a Poison Prevention and Control System recommends a future poison control system with a strong public health infrastructure, a national system of regional poison control centers, federal funding to support core poison control activities, and a national poison information system to track major poisoning epidemics and possible acts of bioterrorism. This framework provides a complete "system" that could offer the best poison prevention and patient care services to meet the needs of the nation in the 21st century.

Prepositioning Antibiotics for Anthrax

Prepositioning Antibiotics for Anthrax PDF Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 030921808X
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 358

Get Book

Book Description
If terrorists released Bacillus anthracis over a large city, hundreds of thousands of people could be at risk of the deadly disease anthrax-caused by the B. anthracis spores-unless they had rapid access to antibiotic medical countermeasures (MCM). Although plans for rapidly delivering MCM to a large number of people following an anthrax attack have been greatly enhanced during the last decade, many public health authorities and policy experts fear that the nation's current systems and plans are insufficient to respond to the most challenging scenarios, such as a very large-scale anthrax attack. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response commissioned the Institute of Medicine to examine the potential uses, benefits, and disadvantages of strategies for repositioning antibiotics. This involves storing antibiotics close to or in the possession of the people who would need rapid access to them should an attack occur. Prepositioning Antibiotics for Anthrax reviews the scientific evidence on the time window in which antibiotics successfully prevent anthrax and the implications for decision making about prepositioning, describes potential prepositioning strategies, and develops a framework to assist state, local, and tribal public health authorities in determining whether prepositioning strategies would be beneficial for their communities. However, based on an analysis of the likely health benefits, health risks, and relative costs of the different prepositioning strategies, the book also develops findings and recommendations to provide jurisdictions with some practical insights as to the circumstances in which different prepositioning strategies may be beneficial. Finally, the book identifies federal- and national-level actions that would facilitate the evaluation and development of prepositioning strategies. Recognizing that communities across the nation have differing needs and capabilities, the findings presented in this report are intended to assist public health officials in considering the benefits, costs, and trade-offs involved in developing alternative prepositioning strategies appropriate to their particular communities.

Bioterrorism: Public health, law enforcement, and minority issues

Bioterrorism: Public health, law enforcement, and minority issues PDF Author: David McBride
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780415942799
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 352

Get Book

Book Description
A collection of previously published articles, passages and chapters from a wide variety of publications spanning several years.

Surveillance and Detection

Surveillance and Detection PDF Author: Barbara F. Bullock
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Biological weapons
Languages : en
Pages : 46

Get Book

Book Description
Perhaps the most frightening apparition of our times is the possibility that a biological agent (bacterim, virus, or toxin) will be used to attack our unprotected civilian population and inflict mass casualties. Until the Fall of 2001, anthrax attacks delivered through the mail to various U.S. senators, to the Governor of New York, and to various media offices, the previously expected use of a weapon of mass destruction against the United States has been a nuclear device that explodes or a chemical cloud that is set adrift. However, today, of all the weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, chemical, and biological), the biological weapons are the most feared by many defense experts but these are the ones that our country is least prepared to deal with Like the concept of a "nuclear winter," the potential destructiveness of a biological attack can come in many forms and is presently very hard to detect and control, and its results could be catastrophic. The unleashing of biological agents against an unprotected civilian population also, in some cases, constitutes the ultimate medical disaster with the capability to completely overwhelm the present health care system. Patients might go to health facilities in unprecedented numbers and demands for intensive care could well exceed available medical resources. Discerning the threat of bioweapons and appropriate responses to them are critical if we are to prevent the devastating effects of bioterrorism.

BioWatch and Public Health Surveillance

BioWatch and Public Health Surveillance PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 030918763X
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 252

Get Book

Book Description
Following the attacks of September 11, 2001 and the anthrax letters, the ability to detect biological threats as quickly as possible became a top priority. In 2003 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) introduced the BioWatch program-a federal monitoring system intended to speed detection of specific biological agents that could be released in aerosolized form during a biological attack. The present volume evaluates the costs and merits of both the current BioWatch program and the plans for a new generation of BioWatch devices. BioWatch and Public Health Surveillance also examines infectious disease surveillance through hospitals and public health agencies in the United States, and considers whether BioWatch and traditional infectious disease surveillance are redundant or complementary.

Bioterrorism and Public Health

Bioterrorism and Public Health PDF Author: John G. Bartlett
Publisher: Physician's Desk Reference (PDR)
ISBN:
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 324

Get Book

Book Description
A directory to authoritative Web sites about bioterrorism offers sources of information on chemical and biological agents, medical responses in the event of an attack, public health and safety guidelines, and news of recent developments.

Responsible Research with Biological Select Agents and Toxins

Responsible Research with Biological Select Agents and Toxins PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 030914535X
Category : Political Science
Languages : en
Pages : 188

Get Book

Book Description
The effort to understand and combat infectious diseases has, during the centuries, produced many key advances in science and medicine-including the development of vaccines, drugs, and other treatments. A subset of this research is conducted with agents that, like anthrax, not only pose a severe threat to the health of humans, plants, and animals but can also be used for ill-intended purposes. Such agents have been listed by the government as biological select agents and toxins. The 2001 anthrax letter attacks prompted the creation of new regulations aimed at increasing security for research with dangerous pathogens. The outcome of the anthrax letter investigation has raised concern about whether these measures are adequate. Responsible Research with Biological Select Agents and Toxins evaluates both the physical security of select agent laboratories and personnel reliability measures designed to ensure the trustworthiness of those with access to biological select agents and toxins. The book offers a set of guiding principles and recommended changes to minimize security risk and facilitate the productivity of research. The book recommends fostering a culture of trust and responsibility in the laboratory, engaging the community in oversight of the Select Agent Program, and enhancing the operation of the Select Agent Program.

Biosecurity in the Global Age

Biosecurity in the Global Age PDF Author: David Fidler
Publisher: Stanford University Press
ISBN: 0804750297
Category : Law
Languages : en
Pages : 321

Get Book

Book Description
"The renewed threat of biological weapons highlights the importance of crafting policy responses informed by the rule of law. This book explores patterns in recent governance initiatives and advocates building a "global biosecurity concert" as a way to address the threats presented by biological weapons and infectious diseases in the early 21st century."--BOOK JACKET.

Chemical and Biological Terrorism

Chemical and Biological Terrorism PDF Author: Committee on R&D Needs for Improving Civilian Medical Response to Chemical and Biological Terrorism Incidents
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309523141
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 303

Get Book

Book Description
The threat of domestic terrorism today looms larger than ever. Bombings at the World Trade Center and Oklahoma City's Federal Building, as well as nerve gas attacks in Japan, have made it tragically obvious that American civilians must be ready for terrorist attacks. What do we need to know to help emergency and medical personnel prepare for these attacks? Chemical and Biological Terrorism identifies the R&D efforts needed to implement recommendations in key areas: pre-incident intelligence, detection and identification of chemical and biological agents, protective clothing and equipment, early recognition that a population has been covertly exposed to a pathogen, mass casualty decontamination and triage, use of vaccines and pharmaceuticals, and the psychological effects of terror. Specific objectives for computer software development are also identified. The book addresses the differences between a biological and chemical attack, the distinct challenges to the military and civilian medical communities, and other broader issues. This book will be of critical interest to anyone involved in civilian preparedness for terrorist attack: planners, administrators, responders, medical professionals, public health and emergency personnel, and technology designers and engineers.