Frequently
Asked Questions
Bioterrorism Concerns after September 11
Johns
Hopkins University Center for Civilian Biodefense Studies
Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, public
concern regarding a potential biological attack has heightened. The Johns
Hopkins Center for Civilian Biodefense Studies received a steady stream of
phone calls from the general public seeking more information about
bioterrorism and ways to protect themselves. In response, the Center
prepared the following "Frequently Asked Questions" (FAQ) fact
sheet. Individuals may also want to contact The
Louisiana
Department of Health & Hospitals (DHH)
and their physician for additional
information.
Should I buy
a gas mask?
Should I have my own supply of
antibiotics?
Is it safe for me to drink water from the tap?
What is smallpox?
If smallpox is a potential threat to
the U.S., why shouldn't we all get vaccinated?
If I was vaccinated against smallpox before 1980,
am I still protected?
What is anthrax?
Is anthrax contagious?
What is the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile
(NPS)?
What can I do to protect myself and
my family?
What if my fear about bioterrorism is having a
serious impact on my family and work life?
Should
I buy a gas mask?
No. A mask would only protect you if you were
wearing it at the exact moment a bioterrorist attack occurred.
Unfortunately, a release of a biological agent is most likely to be done
"covertly," that is, without anyone knowing it. That means you
would not know ahead of time to put on your mask. To wear a mask
continuously or "just in case" a bioterrorist attack occurs, is
impractical, if not impossible.
To work effectively, masks must be specially fitted
to the wearer, and wearers must be trained in their use. This is usually
done for the military and for workers in industries and laboratories who
face routine exposure to chemicals and germs on the job. Gas masks
purchased at an Army surplus store or off the internet carry no guarantees
that they will work. In fact, one national chain of surplus stores
provides the following statement: "(X) has been selling gas masks
as a novelty item since 1948. We have never been able to warrant their
effectiveness and we cannot do so at this time...We do not know what each
type of gas mask we sell might or might not be effective against...We do
not know the age of each gas mask..."
In brief, no guarantees whatsoever are provided.
More serious is the fact that the masks can be dangerous. There are
reports of accidental suffocation when people have worn masks incorrectly,
as happened to some Israeli civilians during the Persian Gulf War.
Top
Should
I have my own supply of antibiotics?
There are a number of different germs a bioterrorist
might use to carry out an attack. Many antibiotics are effective for a
variety of diseases, but there is no antibiotic that is effective against
all diseases. Thus, no single pill can protect against all types of
biological weapon attacks. Keeping a supply of antibiotics on hand poses
other problems because the antibiotics have a limited "shelf
life" before they lose their strength.
There is currently no justification for taking
antibiotics. Also, it should be known that antibiotics can cause side
effects. They should only be taken with medical supervision.
Top
Is
it safe for me to drink water from the tap?
It would be extremely difficult for a bioterrorist
to contaminate our drinking water supplies to cause widespread illness.
There are two reasons. First of all, huge amounts of water are pumped
daily from our reservoirs, most of which is used for industrial and other
purposes; very little is actually consumed. Thus, anything deliberately
put into the water supply would be greatly diluted. Secondly, water
treatment facilities routinely filter the water supply and add chlorine in
order to kill harmful germs.
Top
What
is smallpox?
Smallpox is a disease caused by the Variola
virus. Historically, 1 out of 3 people who contracted the disease died.
The disease can spread from person to person. Transmission usually occurs
only after the patient develops a fever and rash. Although there is no
treatment for the disease, a vaccine against smallpox provides excellent
protection and serves to stop the spread of the disease. While many
vaccines must be given weeks or months before a person is exposed to
infection, smallpox vaccine is different. It protects a person even when
given 2 to 3 days after exposure to the disease and may prevent a fatal
outcome even when given as late as 4 to 5 days after exposure.
Smallpox was stamped out globally by 1980 and
vaccination stopped everywhere in the world. However, the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintain an emergency supply of
smallpox vaccine. Currently there are 12-15 million doses in storage, and
a program to produce more vaccine began a year ago. For more information
on smallpox, click
here.
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If
smallpox is a potential threat to the U.S., why shouldn't we all get
vaccinated?
The vaccine may cause serious side effects. In 1972,
the U.S. decided to stop routinely vaccinating its citizens because many
people were experiencing side effects, while they had almost no risk of
getting smallpox. By 1972, the disease was present only in a few countries
of Asia and Africa. Today, health authorities would only recommend
vaccination if there was clear evidence that the disease had resurfaced
and those in the U.S. were at risk of acquiring infection.
Many people over age 30 have a vaccination scar.
Vaccination consists of introducing the virus into the top layers of the
skin. Over the following few days, a blister forms at the site of
vaccination (usually the upper arm). The arm is sore, and there is fever.
Very rarely, some people get a vaccine-related infection of the brain
(about 1 case per 300,000 vaccinations); one fourth of these cases are
fatal. Other potential negative effects of the vaccine are a severe skin
reaction, spread of the vaccine virus (known as Vaccinia) to other
parts of the body, and spread of the Vaccinia virus to other
people.
Top
If
I was vaccinated against smallpox before 1980, am I still protected?
Probably not. Vaccination has been shown to wear off
in most people after 10 years but may last longer if the person has been
successfully vaccinated on multiple occasions. If health authorities
determine that you have been exposed to smallpox or are at risk of
infection, they would recommend that you be re-vaccinated immediately.
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What
is anthrax?
Anthrax is a disease caused by bacteria called Bacillus
anthracis. The form of the disease that health authorities are
concerned that a bioterrorist attack might produce is inhalational
anthrax. Inhalational anthrax occurs when a person breathes in anthrax
spores. As early as a day or two after exposure or as late as seven weeks
afterward, the spores begin to grow rapidly and the victim develops fever,
has difficulty breathing and feels miserable. Death typically occurs
within a few days after these symptoms if the person doesn't receive
medical treatment. It is believed that antibiotics can stop the disease if
they are taken at the time the anthrax spores begin to grow or very soon
thereafter.
In the event of a bioterrorist attack, health
authorities would conduct a rapid investigation, determine the place and
time of the release, and identify individuals who need antibiotics. The
federal government has stockpiled antibiotics for large-scale distribution
in the event of a bioterrorist attack. For more information on anthrax, click
here.
Top
Is
anthrax contagious?
No. Anthrax is not contagious. It does not spread
from person to person. Healthy people who come into contact with persons
sick with anthrax cannot acquire the disease.
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What
is the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile (NPS)?
The NPS is a large reserve of antibiotics, chemical
antidotes and other medical supplies set aside for emergencies. The CDC
reports that it has the capacity to move these stockpiled materials to
affected areas in the U.S. within 12 hours of notification. There are a
number of different stockpiles, strategically located around the country.
In addition to the medical supplies already set aside, the federal
government has made agreements with drug manufacturers to make large
amounts of additional emergency medicine. For more information on the NPS,
go to http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/nps/default.htm.
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What
can I do to protect myself and my family?
Unfortunately, there is presently little that
individuals can do in advance to protect themselves from a bioterrorist
attack. However, there is much that government agencies, health care
institutions and public health departments can and should be doing to
improve the capacity to protect the public following a bioterrorist
attack. Medical institutions and public health agencies, in particular,
have not received adequate attention and resources to cope with disasters
like bioterrorism. For more information, click
here.
You can express your concern regarding adequate
protections against the potential threat of bioterrorism to your local
leaders. In each area, local health departments have an important
responsibility for helping protect your community against outbreaks of
infectious disease, whether they occur in nature or because of a malicious
terrorist act. They can assist you with additional bioterrorism-related
concerns that are pertinent to your own community.
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What
if my fear about bioterrorism is having a serious impact on my family and
work life?
Given the attacks upon civilians that took place on
September 11, it is reasonable for citizens to feel anxious about their
personal safety. Should your fear get to the point that it stops you from
doing the things you would normally do in a day, it might be helpful to
talk with someone. Your health care provider can make a referral if you do
not already have someone in mind. In the wake of the attack on New York
City, we have learned how helpful it has been to many New Yorkers to speak
with a counselor or to go to a mental health center.
Top
Related
Information
Johns
Hopkins University Center for Civilian Biodefense Studies
Centers For
Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
Louisiana Department of
Health & Hospitals (DHH)
Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FBI
Disaster Supply Kit
Biological
Agents Information
To Contact Us
Parish
Office of Emergency Preparedness Phone Numbers
Federal
Emergency Management Agency
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