What public- and private-sector resources could be used to respond to the threat?
First of all, it is essential to be aware of the fact that the act of chemical or biological terrorism may range from the food product contamination to the aerosolized anthrax spores’ dissemination. That is why, it is almost impossible to make the forecasts regarding the time of occurrence of particular terroristic act as well as the place and method, used for this purpose. At the same time, it is obvious that the public- and private-sector should not ignore the probability of such forms of terrorism. This statement may be supported by increased rates of the frequency of such forms of terroristic attacks within the timeframe of last decade (for example, discovery of programs for military bioweapons in the former Soviet Union and Iraq and sarin gas attack, which has taken its place in Tokyo subway). Thus, it is critically important to be ready for addressing such threat. The set of corresponding programs should be developed commonly by the private and public sector organizations, while using the available resources for this purpose.
In the particular case, the core area of responsibility lies on the public health infrastructure, which, in turn, should have the tools and remedies for preventing the injuries and illness, caused by the biological terrorism. Particular attention in this case should be paid to the readiness of the covert in the case of terrorist attack. In addition, in the same manner as in the case of emerging infectious diseases, effectiveness of the early detection and further control of the biological attack are dependent on the flexible and strong system of public health at all levels: federal, state and local. More than that, the primary providers of the health-care services in US should be watchful in this regard as there is a high probability that they would be first providers, who would be able to detect the unusual diseases and make corresponding reports to the governmental structures.
The following parties should be involved into the process of development and practical implementation of the anthrax biological threat action plan (as it was stated by (CDC)): Epidemiology Program Office; National Center for Environmental Health; National Center for Infectious Diseases; National Center for Injury Prevention and Control; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; Office of Health and Safety, Public Health Practice Program Office, The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) (CDC, 2015).
The active involvement of ATSDR in the particular case is critically important as the particular threat relates to the biological terrorism. Additional involved parties for addressing the problem in the airport (when the envelope with a bag with a tan, powdery substance is detected) should be the following: representatives of the federal, state and local agencies; professional societies; emergency medical services (EMS); private industry, responsible for provision of the constructive criticism and suggestions as well as universities and medical centers (CDC, 2015).
How can public- and private-sector responders collaborate?
In order to address the particular case of biological terrorism, it is essential to put an emphasis on the currently existing technological advancements, medical sciences and information systems - for detection of the material in the envelope box and making the corresponding characteristic it in terms of the possible hazardous impact.
In addition, the involved parties both form the private and public sectors should re-examine the public health activities (such as surveillance of the disease), while using the available technological options.
Finally, the primary providers of the health-care services commonly with the public health agencies should detect the case of biological terrorism, confirm it (or disclaim), while using the scientific and practical evidence. Only in such case, there is an option of strengthening the national capacity in terms of identification of the hazard for emerging infectious diseases, its prompt and effective addressing and maintaining the further control of the situation (CDC, 2015).
How will you advise your supervisor the staff, and the operations manager?
In the case of the anthrax emergency, there is an urgent need of getting the large amounts of the medical supplies and antibiotics from the federal government. These supplies should be sent to the sites, which are referred in the scientific literature as the points of dispensing (PODs), where they furthermore dislocated in the familiar and safe places. The core responsibility of the staff and operations management in this case is to find out the nearest dislocation of the POD. This information may be found in the World Wide Web or in the news updates on radio and TV. Also, the staff, responsible for addressing the threat, should ensure that all individuals, who have suffered from the attack, are able to provide the basic information about their health condition and the medical history – to be assigned with the most suitable (for their particular cases) antibiotics (CDC, 2016).Those members of the team, who are responsible for collaboration with the public agencies, which are expected to respond to the attack, should organize the decontamination of the airport.
The list of the following activities should be also managed by the personnel, working in the tallest and largest building and its operation management. As soon as the envelope was unpackaged and the bag with a tan, powdery substance inside is detected, it is critically important to undertake the HAZMAT and emergency actions. The second step is to conduct the forensic investigation and understate the corresponding public health-related action.
The next step is to make screening and sampling of the material form the box. As soon as the type of the agent, its concentration and validity are determined, to make the risk communication. Afterwards, the determined risk factors should be properly addressed in order to minimize the number of potential and actual victims of such type of terroristic attack.
What special considerations should you make due to the nature of your facility (which is either the airport, water treatment plant, nuclear power plant, or tallest and largest building)?
It is obvious that the intentional bioterrorist attack at the tallest and largest building has the potential of endangering significant number of people. In the case if this building is closed for a durable timeframe (for decontamination), the set of negative impacts would be made on regional economy and the people. inhabiting it. Even if some part of the rooms in this building may be opened again within the limited timeframe (not more than 1 month), others may be closed for durable timeframe. These procedures would also make the negative impact on the tourism in the region – as many people would be afraid of visiting this particular place.
Who will you notify, if anyone, for follow up after the incident is contained?
There is a need of informing the governmental structures about this event - in order to address it within the limited timeframe and in the most effective manner. Also, the management of other buildings (or individuals, who are responsible for anti-terroristic measures in the residential houses), located in the neighborhood, should be informed about the updated procedures of biological attack’ addressing.
What action items will you request from the agencies and persons you notify?
The governmental structures are requested for assistance in this case, while the management of other organizations, or individuals, who are responsible for anti-terroristic measures in the residential houses, located in the neighborhood, should notify about the practical implementation of updated measures as well as their readiness of using them in the case of terroristic attack.
References
CDC (2015) Biological and Chemical Terrorism: Strategic Plan for Preparedness and Response. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr4904a1.htm
CDC (2016) What You Can Do to Prepare. Retrieved from: http://www.cdc.gov/anthrax/bioterrorism/prepare.html
