The Threat of Bioterrorism: Clinical Recognition and Management

Opening of the article

Bioterrorism is an emerging public health and infection control threat. Potential biological agents include smallpox, plague, botulinum toxin, brucellosis, Q fever, viral encephalitis, haemorrhagic fever and staphylococcal enterotoxin B. An understanding of the epidemiology, clinical manifestation, and the management of the more likely candidate agent is critical to limiting morbidity and mortality from biological events. Effective response requires an increase index of suspicion for usual diseases or syndromes, with prompt reporting to health authorities to facilitate recognition of outbreak and subsequent intervention. The clinical manifestation and management is discussed in this review.