8 INFECTIOUS DISEASE, DISASTER PLANNING & WOUND CARE | 2019 | www.elitecme.com B ioterrorism. It’s the plot line that makes Hollywood movies big money. Germs are dispersed into the popula- tion by a foreign terrorist group, causing mass hysteria, killing millions, and turning the few survivors into brain-sucking zombies. One scientist becomes the hero by developing a lifesaving vaccine that cures the remaining survivors and saves the world! Can it happen in real life? Should we be afraid? The intentional release of biological agents which include viruses, bacteria, fungi or their toxins in order to cause death or harm to the human population, livestock and food crops in order to manipulate the gov- ernment broadly defines bioterrorism. The CDC states “bioterrorism” refers to biological agents (microbes or toxins) used as weapons to further personal or political agendas. Acts of bioterrorism range from a single exposure directed at an individual by another individ- ual to government-sponsored biological war- fare resulting in mass casualties.  Bioterrorism is nothing new. The use of biological weapons dates back to the 6th cen- tury B.C. with contamination of a water sup- ply with a fungus by the Assyrians, hurling of plague-infested bodies over walls in 1346 by the Tartar army, and the spreading of small pox through contaminated blankets by the British to the Native American population. In 1984 the Rajneesh cult in Oregon dumped salmonella into salad bars and infected over 700 people. In 2001, several people living in the United States received packages deliv- ered by the United States mail that contained anthrax, a bacteria which causes severe skin ulcerations. Ranging from our water supply, food sources, and even our mail, it seems like noth- ing is safe from bioterrorism. Anything can be targeted. It can happen anywhere, and to anyone. In order to better understand how emi- nent the threat of bioterrorism is on a global spectrum and what we as a population can do about it, who better to consult than “The Germ Guy,” host of the “Super Awesome Science Show” podcast and author of “The Germ Code” and “The Germ Files,” Jason Tetro. Jason explains that “Bioterrorism is essentially speeding up the process of natu- ral outbreaks, epidemics, and pandemics. The issue is whether someone can harness the genetic tools we have today to develop a patho- gen that we may see in the future. When you think of it from that perspective, the threat is real but as we’ve seen with the flu pandemic of a decade ago and recent epidemics of Ebola in Africa and Acute Flaccid Myelitis here in the United States, Mother Nature is still far more dangerous. There are over 1,400 human pathogens lurking around on Earth and we tend to find new strains every year. Given the vast genre of microorganisms that exist, how can we know what germ poses the greatest threat? Jason states, “the worst threat is the pathogen we haven’t given the appropriate consideration to. However, there are quite a number of excellent scientists working to identify how what we know now can become a future problem, and whether it is caused by nature or a human.” Prevention is key in common everyday healthcare practices. Can a bioterrorist attack be prevented and how can the general popula- tion and healthcare providers prepare? Jason further explains that if there is a bioterrorist attack, it will be much like what we see with wildfires. We will have no warning, and pre- dicting the course of events will be difficult Bioterrorism Can it Happen in Real Life? By Ersilia Pompilio RN, MSN, PNP ISTOCK BIOTERRORISM  |