Name and summarize the effects of the most threatening biological agents indicated by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Describe the two biological attacks on U.S. soil

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) classifies the most threatening agents as smallpox, anthrax, plague, botulism, tularemia, and hemorrhagic fever.
• Smallpox is a deadly, contagious virus. Many people were vaccinated against smallpox in their childhood, but these old vaccinations are no longer effective against the disease.
• Anthrax is a non-contagious bacterial infection, and plague is transmitted by insects.
• Botulism is a kind of food borne illness, and other bacteria can be modified to serve as weapons.
• Hemorrhagic fevers are caused by viruses. One of the most widely known hemorrhagic fevers is the Ebola virus.
• The first modern use of biological terrorism in the United States was engineered in 1984 by followers of a religious group in Oregon.
• The group spread bacteria in area salad bars in attempt to sicken voters during a local election.
• Their intent was to elect their religious followers to local office.
• Hundreds of people suffered food poisoning as a result.
• The second attack involved anthrax and came in the wake of 9/11
• It began in Florida when two tabloid workers were infected by anthrax through the mail. One of the victims died.
• In the following days anthrax appeared again as NBC Nightly News received spores in the mail.
• Staffers at the office of former Senate majority leader Thomas Daschle noticed a white powdery substance in a letter.
• The powder contained anthrax spores, and although there were no fatalities, legislative offices were closed in Washington, D.C., for several weeks.
• Mysteriously, other people died on the East Coast with no explanation of how the anthrax was spreading.