Differentiating Background Sources from Bioterrorism or Criminal Release using the Bioagent Transport and Environmental Modeling System
Journal Title: IOSR Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food Technology (IOSR-JESTFT) - Year 2018, Vol 12, Issue 3
Abstract
The BioWatch Program is composed of a series of sensors placed in U.S. cities, laboratory response networks, law enforcement and intelligence agencies coordinated in an effort to mitigate a bioterrorist attack. Several pathogens listed on the Bioterrorist Agents/Diseases List from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are endemic. Several BioWatch Actionable Results (BAR) have occurred over the past 20 years although none of these has been attributed to a terrorist attack or criminal release; one of these occurred in the city of Saint Louis. The Bioagent Transport and Environmental Modeling System (BioTEMS) was used to evaluate potential sources and the direction from endemic sources in relation to BioWatch sensors and identify replication sites should bioterrorist agents be released. BioTEMS identified sites for replication of F. tularensis in the St. Louis area varying from 100 to 1,000 times. The BioTEMS output can provide information to assist public health officials in determining; 1) where to sample to identify endemic strains, 2) include risk of endemic detection in the BAR decision, 3) identifying high risk site for replication of bioterrorist agents.
Authors and Affiliations
Thomas M. Kollars
Keywords
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