Acute psychological effects of suspected bioterrorism

• Published in: Journal of epidemiology and community health (1979) Vol. 57; no. 5; pp. 353 - 354
• Main Authors: Mason, B W, Lyons, R A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.05.2003; BMJ Publishing Group; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Group
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Anthrax; Anthrax - psychology; Anxiety; Anxiety - etiology; Biological and medical sciences; Bioterrorism; Bioterrorism - psychology; Chemical hazards; Community health; Criminal investigations; Decontamination; Depression - etiology; Depressive disorders; disaster planning; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Health Surveys; Humans; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Morbidity; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; psychological stress; Psychological trauma; Public health; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Questionnaires; Rabies; Short Report; Solids; Human; Exposure; Terrorism; Psychological effect; Public health
• ISSN: 0143-005X; 1470-2738
• DOI: 10.1136/jech.57.5.353

The multi-agency response included evacuation and establishment of a cordon around the area where the packages were handled by the police; removal of the suspect packages by the fire service and submission to the Centre for Applied Microbiology and Research for testing; full decontamination of the exposed individuals by the ambulance service using a mobile chemical decontamination unit; obtaining baseline data from exposed individual; and, the provision of information on possible risks and the future management plan by public health specialists. [...]of the implementation of rigorous risk assessment by the police in the UK in the second part of October 2001 only 2.3% of reports of suspicious material led to a full scale response. 9 In other European countries between 22% and 100%, 10 and in the United States 15%, 11 of mail threats led to a similar response.