DisasterEmergency PreparednessBioterrorism

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Disaster/Emergency Preparedness/Bioterrorism

•   Terrorism-use of violence to intimidate or
  cause fear and to influence society (Wikepedia
  (on-line), 2006).
• Disasters-Natural, be aware of bacterial
  infections from impure water or molding after
  flooding

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Bioterrorism

• -Deliberate release of bacteria, viruses or other
  agents that may cause death or illness in people,
  animals and plants. Agents may be spread through
  the air, water or food. There are three
  categories A (pose highest risk to public and
  national security), B (Moderately easy to spread)
  and C (emerging pathogens that could be
  engineered for mass spread) (CDC, 2006).

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Bioterrorism

• If you suspect someone is infected-quarantine
  the person and area
•      Agents
•      ANTHRAX-spore forming bacteria
•       3 types skin, lungs, digestive
•        Spread person/animal to person
•         2001-anthrax spread via postal system
•        Category A
•        GI anthrax more severe causing ¼ to ½
  of deaths in these cases

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Anthrax

• S/S cutaneous-small sore develops into blister
  then ulcer GI-nausea, anorexia, bloody diarrhea,
  fever lungs-cold/flu symptoms, mild fever and
  muscle ages
•   Symptoms appear in 7 days after coming in
  contact with anthrax
•        TX antibiotics (60 days)
•        Prevention-emergency disaster plans

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Ricin

• o      Toxic protein made from castor beans,
  toxin is extracted from the beans and treated to
  form a powder that can be suspended in air and
  inhaled
• o      CANNOT be spread from person to person
• o      Can be injected and has caused several
  deaths to date
• o      S/S dyspnea, fever, cough, nausea, tight
  chest

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Cyanide (hydrogen cyanide, cyanogen chloride or
sodium or potassium cyanide)

• o      Colorless gas, with (bitter almond) or
  without an odor
• o      Inhalation causes most harm, prevents
  cells from getting oxygen, can also be absorbed
  into skin or eating foods that contain this gas
• o      S/S appear within minutes rapid
  breathing, restless, dizziness, h/a, n/v,
  tachycardia large exposure can result in
  convulsions, low blood pressure, LOC, respiratory
  failure death in minutes

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Smallpox

• o      Serious, contagious and possibly fatal
  disease potential biological weapon
• o      No specific tx, only vaccination
• o      S/S a vesicular and pustular rash
  distributed asynchronously over body
• o      Transmission Face to face contact,
  droplets (coughing)
• o      Vaccine is not the actual live smallpox
  virus, but consists of another virus that is not
  deadly
• (CDC, 2002-2006)

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Disaster Management

• o      Primary-prevent, prepare, develop and
  educate
• o      Secondary-screening, activating 911,
  triaging disaster victims
• o      Tertiary-rehab, post exposure

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Nursing Care

• Provide emotional support, monitor v/s,
  administer medications
• Remember previous disaster victims have an
  increased risk for physiological and
  mental-health disorders.
•