Bioterrorism

Abstract

This book consists of nine chapters, written by international authorities, discussing various aspects of bioterrorism preparedness and response. Five of the chapters are agent-specific and highlight the pathogenesis, prevention and treatment, and the potential of specific organisms (Rickettsia and Yersinia pestis) or toxins (ricin, botulinum neurotoxins, and staphylococcal enterotoxins) to be used for nefarious purposes. Four chapters discuss different aspects of detecting and responding to a bioterrorism attack. These include methods for spatio-temporal disease surveillance, international laboratory response strategies, detection of botulinum neurotoxins in food and other matrices, and the use of physical methods (ie Raman spectroscopy) to detect spores.