A Biological Attack

The Development of Science and Technology


The development of science and technology has forced terrorist organizations to develop more cutting-edge methods of assault against their target nations. Biological attacks are defined as the deliberate release of infections, poisons, viruses, or harmful microorganisms against plants, animals, or people as a weapon. One of the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) that terrorists or warring states have utilized is a biological attack (Berger & Moreno, 2010). Every day, various terrorist threats from throughout the world are faced by the United States. Attacks of this kind cause panic, fear, sicknesses, mass fatalities, and economic harm. Therefore, this paper focuses on the approaches I will use as a decision maker during a widespread biological attack. It also discusses the process of decontamination, its impacts to a bioterrorism and the importance of tracking bioterrorism attack on the population.

Approaches during a Biological Attack


In the event of a biological attack, individuals react differently; therefore, the government has laid down rules and regulations to be followed under such circumstances. However, if I were the decision maker, I would recommend the following measures to be taken to curb the situation as soon as possible:



  • Ensuring that disease detectives are well trained and can detect and quickly respond to the attacks.

  • Sufficient laboratory supplies and the presence of well-trained laboratory workers.

Coercive Versus Cooperative Models


The coercive model was developed immediately after the 9/11 attacks in the US. The model provides a way out of dealing with public health needs in case of an emergency. In the bid to reduce the spread of the agents causing diseases and to appropriately respond to the bioterrorism attack, the proponents of the model argue that the state should be able to put in place aggressive measures such as vaccination, isolation, and quarantine. On the other hand, a cooperative model respects human and civil rights. Besides, it nurtures the trust of health official which encourage them to comply with emergency measures. This model also argues that health officials should be able to provide accurate and precise information to the public in case of a bioterrorism attack (Berger & Moreno, 2010).

In comparing the two models, the cooperative model is considered the most effective in response to a biological attack. The coercive model is challenging to implement and tends to decrease public trust. According to Berger and Moreno (2010), the coercive model has never been successful in dealing with a biological attack. On the other hand, a cooperative model focuses on reshaping the health institutions to become more responsive to attacks while at the same time protects the rights of individuals.

Decontamination


Decontamination is the process of eliminating chemical agents that have accumulated on equipment and personnel by either chemical neutralization or physical means of detoxification (Butler, 2014). There are various types of decontamination which include the personal, the personnel and the casualty. Decontamination mainly protects people from poisonous substances. Besides, the process protects workers by reducing the chances of transferring the harmful substances to uncontaminated areas while preventing the incompatible chemical from mixing.

Decontamination can be done through the physical and the chemical methods. In physical removal method, the contaminated substance is flooded with aqueous solution or water to dilute or remove the poisonous substance. This process is only effective when decontaminating materials or equipment. On the other hand, the chemical method employs the use of chemical substances such as soap and oxidation agents among others. It should be noted that decontamination has a positive impact in solving cases of biological attacks. In any biological attack, dissemination of casualties may be reduced if the cause of the biological attack is identified and the rescue team arrives in time (Butler, 2014).

Conclusion


Since the event of September 11, 2001, the United States has always prepared hard if another terrorist attack occurs in the country. It is evident that biological attacks have negative impacts on human life and the environment; however, measures can be taken to curb such situations. These include decontamination and the applications of various public health responses such as those presented in the cooperative and coercive models. The government should allocate more funds for research and resources towards the departments dealing with rescue operations in the bid to reduce the number of casualties in the event a WMD is launched.


References


Berger, S., & Moreno, J. D. (2010). Public trust, public health, and public safety: a progressive response to bioterrorism. Harv. L. & Poly Rev., 4, 295.


Butler, D. (2014). The UK rolls out the terror-attack plan: front-line services being trained in a new approach to dealing with decontamination of victims in the direct aftermath of an event. Nature, 506(7487), 139-141.

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