1. Agenda 11/20 Bioterrorism talk Bioterrorism project
Quick presentations (or HIV overview)
Homework: Practice FRQ
Turn in: nothing 

2. Bioterrorism

3. Bioterrorism Defined
The intentional release of a biological organisms to harm humans, crops, livestock
Current Legislation:
The events of Sept. 11, 2001, reinforced the need to enhance the security of the United States. Congress responded by passing the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (the Bioterrorism Act), which President Bush signed into law June 12, 2002.

4. 4 ‘Main’ Worries Yersnia Pestis: Plague B. anthracis: Anthrax
Botulinum Neurotoxin: Botulism, Botox
Smallpox

5. Yersinia Pestis: “Plague”
“Fear Factor”, Black death
Requires a flea as transmission
Bacteria forces regurgitation of virions into the mouth of flea for better transmission to other hosts.
Killed by antibiotics
Used as bioweapon during WW2

6. Botulinum Neurotoxin: Botulism or “Botox”
Could introduce it through food or water
Difficult to diagnose easily
Easy to get
‘Dual Use Agent’: Can be used as a treatment for certain disorders as well

7. Smallpox Naïve, non vaccinated population
Extremely contagious and lethal
Has been used as bioweapon in the past
Ability to vaccinate persons if exposed
Disease prevented if vaccinated with 3-4 days of exposure

8. B. anthracis or “Anthrax”
Spores are extremely stable
Modification of spores needed for successful transmission
Has been used in the past

9. Previous Uses Anthrax: 2001 outbreak in USA
Spore containing envelopes mailed to offices
22 people infected total, 5 people died
Still don’t know the specific source
Person convicted committed suicide
Smallpox: intentionally given to Native Americans
Plague: Japan dropped infected fleas over population areas of China

10. Current Strategies Containment Vaccination Plan
Politics, Policies, Peace
Mutually assured destruction?
Destroyed samples of smallpox
Except in CDC and WHO
Found in a closest at NIH (whoops)
Thoughts? Should we keep or destroy?

11. Discussion Questions
1. Should the US government keep smallpox for the purposes of research and vaccine development?

12. Discussion Questions
2. Should other countries be allowed to keep smallpox for the purposes of research and vaccine development?

13. Book Recommendations ‘The Hot Zone’ by Richard Preston
‘Demon in the Freezer’ by Richard Preston