Biological Threat Agents Information 

All the Virology on the WWW is an "up to date index site...maintained by Dr. David Sander at Tulane University Medical School in New Orleans, and links and catalogs virology, microbiology and related pages world-wide. Additionally, on-line courses, tutorials, and a catalog of viral images are available. This comprehensive page lists Servers for General Virology, Specific Viruses, Microbiology, AIDS, Emerging Viruses, Electronic Journals, Virology Dictionaries, Gene Therapy, Vaccines, Scientific Societies, Government Sites and much much more."

"Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, the Academy established a national Task Force on Terrorism. Comprised of pediatric experts in such fields as infectious diseases, emergency medicine, disaster planning, and mental health, the work of the Task Force has been governed by three key goals. First, ensure that pediatricians and other pediatric providers have the information they need about terrorism and disasters as fast as it becomes available. Second, ensure that children's needs are considered in all terrorism and disaster planning and response efforts. And, third, ensure functioning linkages with all national, state and local governmental and private entities working on issues concerning terrorism and disasters."

The mission of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is "to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability. CDC seeks to accomplish its mission by working with partners throughout the nation and the world to: monitor health; detect and investigate health problems; conduct research to enhance prevention; develop and advocate sound public health policies; implement prevention strategies; promote healthy behaviors; foster safe and healthful environments; [and,] provide leadership and training."

"Launched in 1996, www.eMedicine.com comprises the largest and most current Clinical Knowledge Base available to physicians and other healthcare professionals...Nearly 10,000 physician authors and editors contribute to the eMedicine Clinical Knowledge Base, which contains articles on 7,000 diseases and disorders. The evidence-based content, updated 24/7, provides the latest practice guidelines in 59 medical specialties. eMedicine's professional content undergoes 4 levels of physician peer review plus an additional review by a PharmD prior to publication."

"This handbook provides basic facts regarding foodborne pathogenic microorganisms and natural toxins. It brings together in one place information from the Food & Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the USDA Food Safety Inspection Service, and the National Institutes of Health."

"The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) represents physicians, scientists and other health care professionals who specialize in infectious diseases. IDSA's purpose is to improve the health of individuals, communities, and society by promoting excellence in patient care, education, research, public health, and prevention relating to infectious diseases." IDSA's "Bioterrorism Information and Resources materials are intended to help ID [infectious diseases] clinicians identify and manage potential threats."

"MedlinePlus has extensive information from the National Institutes of Health and other trusted sources on over 700 diseases and conditions. There are also lists of hospitals and physicians, a medical encyclopedia and a medical dictionary, health information in Spanish, extensive information on prescription and nonprescription drugs, health information from the media, and links to thousands of clinical trials."

"The mission of the Michigan State Medical Society is to promote a health care environment which supports physicians in caring for and enhancing the health of Michigan citizens through science, quality, and ethics in the practice of medicine." The MSMS Biodefense Resource Center is a "gateway to current information, key dates, and guidelines regarding the threat of bioterrorism."

"The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health, conducts and supports much of the research aimed at developing new and improved medical tools against potential bioterrorism agents. Since 2001, NIAID has greatly accelerated its biodefense research program, launching several new initiatives to catalyze development of vaccines, therapies, and diagnostic tests."

"Ready.gov is a common sense framework designed to launch a process of learning about citizen preparedness. One of the primary mandates of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is to educate the public, on a continuing basis, about how to be prepared in case of a national emergency - including a possible terrorist attack."

"The mission of the Institute for Biosecurity is to provide public health and emergency response professionals with the education needed for preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation of emerging public health threats, and for the Institute to conduct research that will contribute to the development of national policies to address these threats."

The "web site, from the Texas Department of State Health Services, serves to provide resources regarding public health preparedness topics for the public, health care professionals and emergency responders. Texas and the entire nation have recently been made aware of the very real threat of emergencies. Texans must be informed and educated about the biological or chemical weapons of terrorism and natural disasters. Texans need to know how such weapons can be used and what illnesses will occur as a result, and what affect emergencies may have. Knowledge is the tool to fight terrorism and prepare for emergencies."

The "site has been designed to provide resource information and continuing education about rare infections and potential bioterrorist agents for several reasons: there is an emerging need to educate medical professionals to respond rapidly and efficiently in the event of a bioterrorist attack or disease outbreak;...preparation leading to 'awareness' among healthcare providers has the potential of making an enormous difference in outcome following one of these events; [and,] most of the preparation for a BT attack is also applicable to any public health disaster or disease outbreak."

The mission of Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) is "to prevent illness and death from infectious diseases through epidemiologic research and the rapid translation of scientific information into real-world practical applications and solutions." CIDRAP delivers on its mission through: "consensus building; connecting scientific research to real-world action; synthesizing information; communicating; [and] conducting research."

"Drawing on the expertise of a multidisciplinary professional staff with experience in government, medicine, public health, bioscience, and the social sciences, the Center's projects aim to: provide independent, critical research and analysis for decision makers in government, national security, bioscience, medicine, public health, and private industry; build international networks of scientists, medical and public health practitioners, scholars and decision-makers to improve communication about biosecurity, create common objectives, and facilitate development of new knowledge; develop scenarios for decision-makers that illustrate key challenges in epidemic preparedness and response and offer possible paths forward; [and] promote the responsible use and governance of increasingly powerful bioscience and biotechnologies."

"The World Health Organization is the United Nations specialized agency for health. WHO's objective, as set out in its Constitution, is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health is defined in WHO's Constitution as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." "Every country should be able to detect, verify rapidly and respond appropriately to epidemic-prone and emerging disease threats when they arise to minimize their impact on the health and economy of the world's population."