U.S. Department of Health and Human Services addresses bioterrorism with five-year plan
"There is zero evidence that any known terrorist group has anywhere near the capability to launch a high-casualty biological attack," said UC Davis professor of microbiology Mark Wheelis. "There has been a certain amount of interest in the past, but the actual capability is zero."
http://media.www.californiaaggie.com/media/storage/paper981/news/2007/06/05/CityNews/U.s-Department.Of.Health.And.Human.Services.Addresses.Bioterrorism.With.FiveYea-2911856-page2.shtml
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services addresses bioterrorism with five-year plan
Anthrax, smallpox most likely viral weapons, experts say
By: MICHAEL BOTT
In its effort to improve response measures to incidents of bioterrorism and natural disease outbreaks, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced a five-year plan to develop, improve and stockpile antibiotics and vaccines for a number of deadly viruses and toxins.
Since the Biodefense and Pandemic Vaccine and Drug Development Act of 2005, also known as Bioshield Two, HHS has been charged with developing countermeasures against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.
The Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise Implementation Plan for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Threats identifies key areas of research, acquisition and development programs for public health emergency preparedness. "Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, our mission has been to protect Americans by securing medical countermeasures for a range of threats," HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said. "We have made significant progress to increase our preparedness in this area, but there is much more we must do."
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency, which operates under the umbrella of HHS, prioritized response measures to a host of deadly health threats, with anthrax and smallpox at the top. While a successful anthrax or smallpox attack would be devastating, experts generally agree that the chances of such an attack in the near future are slim. "There is zero evidence that any known terrorist group has anywhere near the capability to launch a high-casualty biological attack," said UC Davis professor of microbiology Mark Wheelis. "There has been a certain amount of interest in the past, but the actual capability is zero."
However, Wheelis noted that it is still prudent to stockpile antibiotics and vaccines in case of a natural disease outbreak or the technology to weaponize biological agents becomes possible in the future. Anthrax would be the most likely candidate for such an attack, according to Wheelis.
"The genie is out of the bottle," Wheelis said. "There has been a bioterrorism attack [the anthrax letters of 2001]. The threat will increase in the future, but it is not clear how rapidly it will increase."
While anthrax can be released into the air and could potentially infect tens of thousands of people if released in a densely populated area, it is unlikely that any organization has the capability to mount such an attack, according to experts. Anthrax is not very contagious, which means that tracking down and treating people exposed to such an attack would be feasible. If smallpox were used in an act of bioterrorism, it would likely turn into a global pandemic which could kill millions of people, most in developing countries, where vaccinations are not prevalent and access to medical care is limited. However, smallpox is reportedly only known to exist in two highly secure laboratories, one in the United States and the other in Russia.
According to UC Davis history professor Louis Warren, the use of smallpox as a weapon by any terrorist group would be just as devastating, if not more so, to their own people. "It is probably the deadliest pathogen in the history of the human species," Warren said. "It's probably caused more deaths over the course of human history than any other malady. On the other hand, you have to start thinking why you are being told to be so afraid of it."
Much of the media's and government's portrayal of bioterrorism is driven by fear, Warren added. A better way to approach the issue, he said, is from a public health perspective.
MICHAEL BOTT can be reached at city@californiaaggie.com.
http://media.www.californiaaggie.com/media/storage/paper981/news/2007/06/05/CityNews/U.s-Department.Of.Health.And.Human.Services.Addresses.Bioterrorism.With.FiveYea-2911856-page2.shtml
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services addresses bioterrorism with five-year plan
Anthrax, smallpox most likely viral weapons, experts say
By: MICHAEL BOTT
In its effort to improve response measures to incidents of bioterrorism and natural disease outbreaks, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced a five-year plan to develop, improve and stockpile antibiotics and vaccines for a number of deadly viruses and toxins.
Since the Biodefense and Pandemic Vaccine and Drug Development Act of 2005, also known as Bioshield Two, HHS has been charged with developing countermeasures against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.
The Public Health Emergency Medical Countermeasures Enterprise Implementation Plan for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Threats identifies key areas of research, acquisition and development programs for public health emergency preparedness. "Since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, our mission has been to protect Americans by securing medical countermeasures for a range of threats," HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt said. "We have made significant progress to increase our preparedness in this area, but there is much more we must do."
The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Agency, which operates under the umbrella of HHS, prioritized response measures to a host of deadly health threats, with anthrax and smallpox at the top. While a successful anthrax or smallpox attack would be devastating, experts generally agree that the chances of such an attack in the near future are slim. "There is zero evidence that any known terrorist group has anywhere near the capability to launch a high-casualty biological attack," said UC Davis professor of microbiology Mark Wheelis. "There has been a certain amount of interest in the past, but the actual capability is zero."
However, Wheelis noted that it is still prudent to stockpile antibiotics and vaccines in case of a natural disease outbreak or the technology to weaponize biological agents becomes possible in the future. Anthrax would be the most likely candidate for such an attack, according to Wheelis.
"The genie is out of the bottle," Wheelis said. "There has been a bioterrorism attack [the anthrax letters of 2001]. The threat will increase in the future, but it is not clear how rapidly it will increase."
While anthrax can be released into the air and could potentially infect tens of thousands of people if released in a densely populated area, it is unlikely that any organization has the capability to mount such an attack, according to experts. Anthrax is not very contagious, which means that tracking down and treating people exposed to such an attack would be feasible. If smallpox were used in an act of bioterrorism, it would likely turn into a global pandemic which could kill millions of people, most in developing countries, where vaccinations are not prevalent and access to medical care is limited. However, smallpox is reportedly only known to exist in two highly secure laboratories, one in the United States and the other in Russia.
According to UC Davis history professor Louis Warren, the use of smallpox as a weapon by any terrorist group would be just as devastating, if not more so, to their own people. "It is probably the deadliest pathogen in the history of the human species," Warren said. "It's probably caused more deaths over the course of human history than any other malady. On the other hand, you have to start thinking why you are being told to be so afraid of it."
Much of the media's and government's portrayal of bioterrorism is driven by fear, Warren added. A better way to approach the issue, he said, is from a public health perspective.
MICHAEL BOTT can be reached at city@californiaaggie.com.
