We examined outbreak investigations conducted around the world from 1988 to 1999 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Epidemic Intelligence Service. In 44 (4.0%) of 1,099 investigations, identified causative agents had bioterrorism potential. In six investigations, intentional use of infectious agents was considered. Healthcare providers reported 270 (24.6%) outbreaks and infection control practitioners reported 129 (11.7%); together they reported 399 (36.3%) of the outbreaks. Health departments reported 335 (30.5%) outbreaks. For six outbreaks in which bioterrorism or intentional contamination was possible, reporting was delayed for up to 26 days. We confirmed that the most critical component for bioterrorism outbreak detection and reporting is the frontline healthcare profession and the local health departments. Bioterrorism preparedness should emphasize education and support of this frontline as well as methods to shorten the time between outbreak and reporting.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2972753PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid0905.020388DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

outbreak investigations
8
health departments
8
planning biological
4
biological terrorism
4
terrorism lessons
4
outbreak
4
lessons outbreak
4
investigations
4
investigations examined
4
examined outbreak
4

Similar Publications

Retrospective Analysis of the Correlation between Umbilical Blood Flow Index and Maternal and Fetal Outcomes in Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes.

Br J Hosp Med (Lond)

January 2025

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Clinical Medical College of Three Gorges University, Yichang Central People's Hospital, Yichang, Hubei, China.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common complication during pregnancy. This retrospective study investigates the correlation between umbilical blood flow index and maternal-fetal outcomes in pregnant women with GDM, aiming to contribute to evidence-based risk assessment and management strategy in this high-risk obstetric population. This retrospective study recruited 119 pregnant women with GDM who were admitted to the Yichang Central People's Hospital, between January 2022 and January 2024.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) is an effective tool for identifying malnutrition, and helps monitor the prognosis of patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. However, the association between the GNRI and cardiovascular or all-cause mortality in hemodialysis patients remains unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the correlation of the GNRI with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Research evidence has demonstrated a significant association between hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and atrial fibrillation (AF), but the causality and pattern of this link remain unexplored. Therefore, this study investigated the causal relationship between HCM and AF using a two-sample and bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Additionally, this assessed the role of cardiovascular proteins (CPs) associated with cardiovascular diseases between HCM and AF by applying a two-step MR analysis.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Domestic Dogs Exposed to Orthopoxvirus in Urban Areas of Brazil.

Viruses

January 2025

Laboratório de Vírus, Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Avenida Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil.

Domestic animals can share viral pathogens with humans, acting mainly as a bridge host. The genus hosts important zoonotic species that have emerged in urban areas worldwide. Nevertheless, the role of companion animals, such as dogs and cats, in the circulation of orthopoxviruses in urban areas remains poorly understood.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Neurotropic Tick-Borne Flavivirus in Alpine Chamois (), Austria, 2017, Italy, 2023.

Viruses

January 2025

Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna (IZSLER), 25124 Brescia, Italy.

The European subtype of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV-Eur; species , family ) was the only tick-borne flavivirus present in central Europe known to cause neurologic disease in humans and several animal species. Here, we report a tick-borne flavivirus isolated from Alpine chamois () with encephalitis and attached ticks, present over a wide area in the Alps. Cases were detected in 2017 in Salzburg, Austria, and 2023 in Lombardy and Piedmont, Italy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!