The Assessment of Knowledge of Organisational - Administrative Procedures in the Case of a Bioterrorist Threat in Selected Environmental Populations

Abstract

In the past we have seen numerous cases of the purposeful utilisation of micro-organisms and toxins. This situation forced us to undertake actions aimed at a limitation of the production and storage of biological weapons. Unfortunately, despite the signing of the Convention on Biological and Chemical Weapons, many countries are still involved in research into the use of biological agents as a military resource. The objective of the work was to perform an assessment of the knowledge of threats connected with bioterrorism as well as of the procedures in the case of a bioterrorist attack in two different urban populations -i.e. of below 50 thousand and above 500 thousand inhabitants. The study was conducted in two towns, Nysa and Łódź. A self-designed questionnaire included 100 persons from each town, both men and women aged between 18 and 65 years. Despite the small differences between the researched populations, the knowledge of respondents concerning bioterrorist threats and procedures during an attack is insufficient. On the basis of the obtained results we may conclude that there is a need to educate the entire society, irrespective of the place of residence, in order to raise an awareness with regard to the potential threat and procedures in the event of a bioterrorist attack.

Evaluation of knowledge and preparedness of medical, dentistry, nursing and laboratory science technology students against a potential bioterrorism attack in Birjand University of Medical Sciences, 2017

“…The term bioterrorism generally means misuse of microorganisms, including viral, bacterial, parasitic, and fungal agents as well as microbial toxins for the purpose of causing fear or annihilation of humans and animals and destroying plants with the aim of killing, damaging, scaring and threatening to do so (3,4,5). Detection of bioterrorism attack occurrence is also very difficult and needs a close interaction between clinicians, healthcare practitioners and clinical microbiology scientists (6). This means that in a high risk region, all members of a health care team must be familiar and alert regarding the concept and different aspects of a bioterrorism attack.…”