7 Bioterrorism and Agroterrorism

1. Involve acts dangerous to human life
2. Appear intended to intimidate/coerce civilian population, influence the gov. policy by intimidation/coercion, affect conduct of government by mass destruction/kidnapping/assassination
3. Occurs under U.S. jurisdiction

What 3 characteristics encase domestic terrorism?

Agroterrorism

Terrorist acts intended to disrupt or damage a country's agriculture, especially the use of a biological agent against crops or livestock

Bioterrorism

The deliberate release of viruses, bacteria, other germs, or toxins to cause illness or death

Biothreat

A threat from a biological weapon, posed by a harmful biological agent, including things which are natural, accidental, or intentional

Bioweapons, lab samples, emerging diseases, epidemics/pandemics, naturally occurring diseases

Name some examples of biothreats (5)

1. Emergence and spread of new microbes
2. Globalization of travel and trade
3. Rise of drug resistance
4. Potential for accidental release, theft or illicit use of bioagents

What are Today's Top 4 Global Health Security Risks?

Economic warfare (accounting for 13% GDP and 24 million jobs)

What is the primary impact of agroterrorism?

It means that public health is not just public health, it is interconnected with the food industry and chemical industry and government, etc., and any response or preparation done to one branch must also be interconnected to prepare other branches.

What does it mean the the Critical Infrastructure of our society is Interdependent?

National Biosurveillance Integration Center of Homeland Security (NBIC)

What is one of the key agencies in agroterrorism preparedness and response?

NBIC

Which agency has the job to "rapidly identify, characterize, localize, and track a biological event of national concern"?

Canine Influenza (H3N2)

Which pathogen of veterinary concern is on NBIC's list for potential evidence of zoonotic spillover and amplification in humans?

1. Are more outdoors
2. Are closer to the ground
3. Eat and drink from exposed sources
4. Have higher susceptilbility

How are animals sentinels (acts as an indicator for presence of disease) for bioterrorism? Name 4 concerns.

Zoonotic disease represent the highest percentage of biothreat agents.

Most Bio-Threats on the CDC's list are _______________.

USDA, FDA, FBI, Homeland Security, US department of defense, US government

Name some agencies involved in defense against Agroterrorism and Bioterrorism.

Response to agroterrorism

To interpret intentional versus natural events, are these characteristics a response to or presentation of agroterrorism events:
1. criminal investigation
2. additional response agencies
3. sampling, chain of custody
4. record keeping and testimony

Presentation of agroterrorism

To interpret intentional versus natural events, are these characteristics a response to or presentation of agroterrorism events:
1. different species involved
2. different symptoms
3. enhanced severity of disease
4. unusual epidemiological pattern