J300 History of Public Health
Indiana University
      Bloomington
Spring 2005
Bioterrorism and Me
HOME DISEASES TOXINS TARGETS, DELIVERY, RESPONSES RESOURCES SOURCES
 
 
CONTACT INFORMATION

 
Police Fire Ambulance
 911

Poison Control Center
1-800-222-1222

Department of Homeland Security Citizens Line
1-202-282-8000

Centers for Disease Control public response hotline
1-800-CDC-INFO

Indiana Public Health Office
1-317-233-8000

Indiana Public Health Office Emergency Number
1-317-233-1325
 
Summary of Symptoms and Incubation Period (time from exposure to onset of symptoms)
Disease or toxin Earliest symptoms after contact Time until these symptoms appear Likeliest method of delivery in bioterrorism

anthrax

generalized weakness, a dry cough, sore throat, and runny nose

 several hours to one week aerosol or powder
botulism muscle weakness without fever depends on type aerosol or contaminated food or drink
plague fever and chills 1 to 3 days aerosol, dry or wet
smallpox flu-like, followed by a rash around the mouth 7 to 17 days aerosol or powder
tularemia flu-like 3 to 5 days aerosol or powder
viral hemorrhagic fevers fever and fatigue, then specific to the type of VHF depends on the type of VHF aerosol or direct contact with contaminated objects
       
glanders sudden onset of fever 1 to 5 days aerosol
Venezuelan equine encephalitis flu-like 1 to 5 days aerosol, wet or dry
West Nile virus sudden onset of fever 3 to 14 days aerosol
       
ricin flu-like 6 to 8 hours powder or mist
staphylococcal enterotoxin B depends on degree of exposure 8 to 24 hours aerosol
T-2 (trichothecene mycotoxin) skin pain and nervousness 2 to 4 hours aerosol as mist or droplets
blister agents skin blisters 1 to 6 hours aerosol, gas or liquid
blood agents varies by type 2 to 24 hours aerosol
G agents (sarin, soman, and tabun) severe coughing and discomfort in the lungs if “G” agent is inhaled a few minutes to 18 hours aerosol as vapor or liquid
VX nerve gas contractions in involuntary muscles immediately if inhaled aerosol as gas or liquid


Home Preparations

There are many decisions to be made to prepare home and work for a bioterrorist attack. We have not tried to discuss these decisions or the specific steps that should be considered, but decided instead to refer readers to some web pages that do cover these issues:

http://healthandenergy.com/preparing_for_terrorist_attacks.htm

http://homebuying.about.com/cs/saferooms/a/disaster_kit.htm

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/arnet74.html, which discusses disaster preparation in general

http://www.vdes.state.va.us/library/famdis.cfm