Bioterrorism: what is the threat?

The threat of bioterrorism.

The emerging threat of bioterrorism.

The threat of bioterrorism focuses attention on overall preparedness to address the challenges posed by new and reemerging infectious diseases. Bioterrorism scenarios illustrate the diversity of disciplines and perspectives required to confront these threats, whether naturally occurring or purposely caused. The need to strengthen existing and develop new partnerships is clear. Since late 1992, ...

The threat of smallpox and bioterrorism.

Smallpox (variola) was a devastating disease with a high case-fatality rate. Although the disease was eradicated in 1977, the remaining stocks of smallpox virus constitute one of the most dangerous threats to humanity. The smallpox virus is highly specific for humans and non-pathogenic in animals. There is no antiviral treatment and a vaccine is active only if administered in the first four day...

Multidrug-resistant bacteria: what is the threat?

Despite big advances in antimicrobial therapies and infection strategies, the emergence of antibiotic resistance represents an emergency situation, especially in immunocompromised hosts. Specifically, infections due to multidrug resistant, gram-negative pathogens are responsible for high mortality rates and may leave few effective antimicrobial options. Furthermore, although new compounds are a...

Bioterrorism as a public health threat.

The threat of bioterrorism, long ignored and denied, has heightened over the past few years. Recent events in Iraq, Japan, and Russia cast an ominous shadow. Two candidate agents are of special concern--smallpox and anthrax. The magnitude of the problems and the gravity of the scenarios associated with release of these organisms have been vividly portrayed by two epidemics of smallpox in Europe...