Discernment between deliberate and natural infectious disease outbreaks

Abstract

Public health authorities should be vigilant to the potential for outbreaks deliberately caused by biological agents (bioterrorism). Such events require a rapid response and incorporation of non-traditional partners for disease investigation and outbreak control. The astute application of infectious disease epidemiological principles can promote an enhanced index of suspicion for such events. We discuss epidemiological indicators that should be considered during outbreak investigations, and also examine their application during bioterrorism incidents, an accidental release of an agent, outbreaks of infections that were alleged to have been deliberately initiated, and a model scenario. The Grunow & Finke epidemiological assessment tool is used to examine these historical events and the model scenario. The results received from this analysis, coupled with an understanding of epidemiological clues to unnatural events, and knowledge of how to manage such events, can aid in the improved response and resolution of epidemics.

The Osmolyte Trimethylamine N-Oxide (TMAO) Increases the Proteolytic Activity of Botulinum Neurotoxin Light Chains A, B, and E: Implications for Enhancing Analytical Assay Sensitivity

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Francisella Tularensis : Tularemia

“…Delayed diagnosis can cause a fatal outcome. Mild or unapparent forms of tularemia with sero-conversion seem to be more common than previously thought even in low-prevalence areas according to a recent sero-epidemiological study in Germany [45,46].…”

An Overview of Zoonotic Disease Outbreaks and its Forensic Management Over Time

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