Biological Warfare and Bioterrorism

This web page is intended to improve preparedness for and response to biological warfare and terrorism by providing a quick reference and overview of federal web sites on the subject.

Agents

• Anthrax Vaccine Implementation Program -- The official Department of Defense web site for the anthrax vaccination program.  Includes information on the disease, the potential biological threat, and vaccination safety and effectiveness.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Case Definitions for Selected Diseases -- Recently revised and updated uniform criteria for state health department personnel to use when reporting to CDC notifiable infectious diseases
• National Response Center Chemical / Biological Hotline -- Manned by the National Response Center (NRC) and operated 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. NRC Duty Officers take reports of actual or potential domestic terrorism and link emergency calls with SBCCOM for technical advice on dealing with weapons of mass destruction and with the FBI to initiate the federal response actions. 
• NIOSH's Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards -- Intended as a source of general industrial hygiene information for workers, employers, and occupational health professionals. The Pocket Guide presents key information and data in abbreviated tabular form for 677 chemicals or substance groupings. 
• U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine's Detailed Chemical Fact Sheets -- Information on 24 blister, choking, tear, and vomiting agents.
• United States Army Chemical School -- To protect the force and allow the Army to fight and win against a nuclear, biologic or chemical (NBC) threat. Develop doctrine, equipment and training for NBC defense which serve as a deterrent to ANY adversary possessing weapons of mass destruction and to provide the Army with the combat multipliers of smoke, obscurant, and flame capabilities.
• United State Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases -- Department of Defense's lead laboratory for medical aspects of biological warfare defense, research to develop vaccines, drugs and diagnostics for laboratory and field use. 

Managing an Attack

• United States Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute's Medical Management of Radiological Casualties Handbook -- The purpose of this handbook is to provide concise supplemental reading material for the Medical Effects of Ionizing Radiation Course, which is the only course in the Department of Defense for training health care professionals in the management of uncontrolled ionizing radiation exposure.
• United States Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense Chemical Casualty Care Division -- Physicians and other highly qualified military and civilian personnel, organize and implement a post-graduate education program for medical professionals and training for first responders in the management of chemical agent casualties. These courses are offered on site, off site, and through distributed learning.
• United States Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense Medical Management of Chemical Casualties Handbook -- This handbook provides medical personnel in the field a concise reference source for the medical management of chemical casualties. It is not intended to be a definitive text on the management of chemical casualties.
• United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases Medical Management of Biological Casualties Handbook -- This handbook serves as a concise manual for medical personnel to medical prophylaxis and management of biological casualties. It is designed as a quick reference and overview, and is not intended as a definitive text on the medical management of biological casualties.
• United States Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command First Responders Compendium of Weapons of Mass Destruction Training Courses -- A compendium of courses was compiled to inform state and local agencies of federal training that is available in the area of weapons of mass destruction. These courses are all available to state and local responders.
• United States Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command First Responders Guidelines for Mass Casualty Decontamination During a Terrorist Chemical Agent Incident -- addressed the issue of how to effectively decontaminate large numbers of people. Emphasis was placed on decontamination methods that could be performed with equipment and expertise readily available to most responder jurisdictions.

Response to Terrorism

• Biological Weapons Treaties -- The Biological Weapons Convention prohibits Parties from developing, producing, stockpiling, acquiring or retaining: (1) biological agents or toxins of types and in quantities that have no justification for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes and (2) weapons, equipment or means of delivery designed to use such agents or toxins for hostile purposes or in armed conflict.
• Center for Civilian Biodefense Studies -- From Johns Hopkins University, provides information on the threat posed by the major biological agents and possible medical and public health responses to them through analysis of expected clinical manifestations, available treatment strategies, epidemiology, and potential methods of prophylaxis.
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Biological and Chemical Terrorism:  Strategic Plan for Preparedness and Response --  This plan contains recommendations to reduce U.S. vulnerability to biological and chemical terrorism — preparedness planning, detection and surveillance, laboratory analysis, emergency response, and communication systems.
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Bioterrorism Preparedness web site -- Includes information on biological agents, protocols and state emergency contact information in the event of an bioterroristic threat.  Also includes learning resources such as BTtv -- video streaming of live and archived CDC-sponsored events related to bioterrorism.
• Chemical and Biological Defense Information Analysis Center -- Serves as the focal point for DoD Chemical and Biological Defense scientific and technical information. It provides services to DoD organizations, other government groups, and their approved contractors. Service to other parties is limited to the publicly accessible information on this web site.
• Chemical Weapons Convention Treaty -- The Chemical Weapons Convention prohibits the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, transfer, and use of chemical weapons. It obligates Parties to destroy their chemical weapons and CW-production facilities within 10 years of the CWC's entry-into-force.
• Department of Defense Chemical and Biological Defense Program Annual Report to Congress -- provides development and procurement of systems to enhance the ability of U.S. forces to deter and defend against CB agents during regional contingencies.
• Department of Defense Report, Proliferation : Threat and Response 1997 -- This report details the nature of the security challenge posed by the proliferation of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons and their delivery systems and the Department of Defense's response to the challenge.
• Federal Emergency Management Agency's Rapid Response Information System -- Comprised of series of data fields, consisting of chemical and biological agents and radiological materials characteristics, first aid measures, Federal response capabilities, information line, hot-lines, and other Federal information sources concerning potential weapons of mass destruction. The RRIS can be used as a research vehicle, training aid, and an overall planning and training resource for response to a Chemical, Biological and/or Nuclear terrorist incident.