Pediatric Disaster Preparedness and Response Topical Collection Chapter 8: Biological Events
- Sarita Chung; George Foltin; David Schonfeld
- American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released recommendations on dealing with biological terrorism in February 2020, emphasizing the historical use of bioterrorism agents like Salmonella, anthrax, and botulinum. This chapter is an updated summary for hospitals and first responders. Bioterrorism involves intentionally using biological agents to cause harm for political motives. Category A agents, such as anthrax and smallpox, pose significant public health threats due to their high morbidity and mortality rates. Recognizing bioterrorist attacks can be challenging, but clues like unusual disease patterns, unexplained deaths, and atypical age groups can indicate a potential attack. Health care providers must remain vigilant and report any suspicious cases promptly to authorities to ensure a rapid and effective response.
More Like This Resource
- Pediatric Disaster Preparedness and Response Topical Collection Chapter 9: Chemical Events 2022 · American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
- Pediatric Disaster Preparedness and Response Topical Collection Chapter 7: Nuclear and Radiological Events 2022 · American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
- Joint Policy Statement—Guidelines for Care of Children in the Emergency Department 2009 · American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)