Open AccessBioterrorism: Health sector alertness
Author(s) -
Violet N Pinto
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of natural science, biology and medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.236
H-Index - 30
eISSN - 2229-7707
pISSN - 0976-9668
DOI - 10.4103/0976-9668.107256
Subject(s) - alertness , biological warfare , preparedness , public health , risk analysis (engineering) , outbreak , environmental health , medicine , business , political science , environmental planning , computer security , medical emergency , geography , computer science , virology , psychiatry , nursing , law
The global events of the last two decades indicate that the threat of biological warfare is not a myth, but a harsh reality. The successive outbreaks caused by newly recognized and resurgent pathogens and the risk that high-consequence pathogens might be used as bioterrorism agents amply demonstrate the need to enhance capacity in clinical and public health management of highly infectious diseases. This review article provides a concise overview of bioterrorism, the agents used, and measures to counteract it, with a relevant note on India's current scenario of surveillance systems, laboratory response network, and the need for preparedness.