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BIOTERRORISM

The document discusses biological and chemical warfare agents and toxins that could be used for terrorism purposes, including anthrax, smallpox, botulism, SARS, nerve agents, vesicants, pulmonary irritants, and chemical asphyxiants. It also discusses why terrorists may use these agents and some of the risks of chemical and biological terrorism.

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claire yows
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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
30 views11 pages

BIOTERRORISM

The document discusses biological and chemical warfare agents and toxins that could be used for terrorism purposes, including anthrax, smallpox, botulism, SARS, nerve agents, vesicants, pulmonary irritants, and chemical asphyxiants. It also discusses why terrorists may use these agents and some of the risks of chemical and biological terrorism.

Uploaded by

claire yows
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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BIOLOGICAL

WARFARE/
CHEMICAL WARFARE
Prepared by:
Shem Marie Fideles Chu Daños, RN, MAN
are those pathogens used
deliberately to infect
persons, as well as toxins
normally derived from
plants or animals. As with
naturally occurring
infectious diseases,
biological agents used in
terrorism can infect
through respiratory and
ingestion routes.
CHEMICAL
AGENTS
Include the many toxic
chemicals that may be
available to terrorists.
Everything from chlorine gas
to the highly potent nerve
agents (e.g., toxic
organophosphate
compounds) are considered
in this category.
WHY WOULD TERRORISTS USE
CHEMICAL OR BIOLOGICAL
AGENTS?
oBy virtue of their novel and fearsome
qualities, unconventional agents can be
used as a “force multiplier” terror
weapon against an unprotected
population (Falkenrath, Newman, &
Thayer, 1998)

oWreak destruction via psychological


means by inducing fear, confusion, and
uncertainty in everyday life. These effects
will take two forms, acute and long term.
(Wessely, Hyams, & Bartholomew, 2001,
p. 878)
▪ CB terrorism attack are the
logistical and psychological
demands on the healthcare
system. Not only is this a
WHAT ARE THE matter of staff resources,
REAL RISKS OF treatments, equipment, and
decontamination measures,
CHEMICAL/ but also involves the very basic
BIOLOGICAL and challenging limitations of
space.
TERRORISM?
▪ Critical health support staff are
also likely to be very
concerned for their own safety
and that of their families.
ANTHRAX SMALLPOX
A subset of select agents and Thousands of years ago, variola
toxins have been designated as virus (smallpox virus) emerged
Tier 1 because these biological
agents and toxins present the and began causing illness and
greatest risk of deliberate deaths in human populations,
misuse with significant with smallpox outbreaks
potential for mass casualties or occurring from time to time.
devastating effect to the
economy
BOTULISM
Botulism is a rare but
serious illness caused by a
toxin that attacks the
body’s nerves.
SARS
is an airborne virus and
can spread through small
droplets of saliva in a
similar way to the cold and
influenza.
Nerve Agents
• G-Series (e.g., sarin [GB], soman
[GD], tabun [GA])
• V-Series (e.g., VX, VE, VG, VM,
VR)
• Organophosphorus pesticides
• Carbamate pesticides
Vesicants (Blister Agents)
• Mustards (e.g., mustard gas [H],
nitrogen mustard [HN])
• Lewisites/chloroarsines (e.g., L-
1, L-2, L-3)
• Mustard/lewisite (HL)
• Phosgene oxime (CX)
Pulmonary Irritants (Choking
Agents)
✓ Osmium tetroxide ✓ Ammonia
✓ Diphosgene (DP) ✓ Bromine (CA)
✓ Phosgene (CG) ✓ Chlorine (CL)
✓ Phosphine ✓ Hydrogen
✓ Phosphorus chloride
(elemental, white ✓ Methyl
or yellow) bromide
✓ Sulfuryl fluoride ✓ Methyl
isocyanate
Chemical
• Arsine (SA)
• Azides (e.g., hydrogen
Asphyxiants (Blood
azide) Agents)
• Carbon monoxide
• Cyanides and cyanogenic
compounds
• Methemoglobin inducers
(e.g., nitrates and nitrites)
• Sodium monofluoroacetate
(compound 1080)
• Sulfides (e.g., hydrogen
sulfide)
REFERENCE
Veenema, T. G., (2018). Disaster Nursing and Emergency Preparedness 4th Edition.

THANK YOU….

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