Biochemical Terrorism

Question 1

What are the 6 most dangerous biological agents? (Category A)

Answer 1

Smallpox, Anthrax, Pneumonic Plague, Botulism, Hemorrhagic fever (Ebola), Tularemia

Question 2

Smallpox

Answer 2

Inhaled - on airborne precautions
Dies from septicemia (blood posioning) - no treatment
Rash starts around mouth first

Question 3

Anthrax

Answer 3

Spread by inhalation, standard precautions
Looks like respiratory flu
Die from respiratory failure
Treated with penicillin, mycins, ciprofloxacin

Question 4

Plague

Answer 4

spread by inhalation but not person to person, standard precautions
Bloody sputum, vomit blood, bloody stool
Die from respiratory failure and bleeding
Can recover within 48 hours with doxycycline and mycins

Question 5

Botulism

Answer 5

Ingested from food you swallow
3 major sx - descending paralysis, fever, alert
die from resp failure
no drugs treat this, they are put on ventilator once they start descending and the body heals

Question 6

Hw to respond to biological agents

Answer 6

Selective quarantine (only those who have it)
Treat with abx
Release the patient when the culture is -

Question 7

How to respond to chemical agents (class c)

Answer 7

evacuate everybody
taken somewhere to decontaminate (shower burn clothes)
Release when the environment is clear