Bioterrorism

Submitted by amh10 on 19 March, 2007 - 13:07

What makes an effective agent?

  • High mortality
  • High infectivity
  • Easy "administration" e.g aerosols
  • Very small innoculum
  • Easy to produce
  • Survives in the environment
  • Resistant to many known agents
  • Important: large animal reservior.

And the ususal suspects are:

  • Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) - 50% mortaliy.
  • Yersinia pestis - large rodent population.
  • F. tularensis - rabbit host.
  • Smallpox
  • Clostridium botulinium.
  • Q-fever (from milk?) according to this.

AMH

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