RT Book, Section
A1 Suchard, Jeffrey R.
A2 Hoffman, Robert S.
A2 Howland, Mary Ann
A2 Lewin, Neal A.
A2 Nelson, Lewis S.
A2 Goldfrank, Lewis R.
SR Print(0)
ID 1108438008
T1 Biological Weapons
T2 Goldfrank's Toxicologic Emergencies, 10e
YR 2015
FD 2015
PB McGraw-Hill Education
PP New York, NY
SN 9780071801843
LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1108438008
RD 2024/04/16
AB Expertise  in  dealing  with  biological  weapons  requires  specific  knowledge  from  the  fields  of  infectious  disease,  epidemiology,  toxicology,  and  public  health.  Biological  and  chemical  warfare  agents  share  many  characteristics  in  common,  including  intent  of  use,  some  dispersion  methods,  and  ­initial  defense  based  on  adequate  personal  protective  equipment  and  decontamination  (Tables  132–2  and  132–3).  However,  key  differences  between  biological  and  chemical  weapons  involve  a  greater  delay  in  onset  of  clinical  symptoms  after  exposure  to  biological  weapons;  that  is,  the  incubation  period  for  most  bioweapons  (BWs)  is  greater  than  the  latent  period  for  most  chemical  warfare  agents.  Decontamination  is  less  crucial  for  victims  exposed  to  BWs  than  to  chemical  warfare  agents.  Additionally,  a  few  BWs  can  reproduce  in  the  human  host  and  cause  secondary  casualties,  and  ­disease  ­following  exposure  to  several  of  these  agents  can  be  prevented  by  the  timely  administration  of  prophylactic  medications.