Gail Dudley and Robin B. McFee
J Am Osteopath Assoc 2005 105: 417-424.
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An intentional release of infectious agents in theUnited States could cause
mass casualties, resultingin significant morbidity and mortality, societal
disruption, and long-term human and economic hardship. The strain that such
events could place on themedical infrastructure would likely be unprecedented.
Project BioShield, signed into law by President George W. Bush on July 21,
2004, is the mostprominent of various legislative acts and programsdesigned to
address national preparedness for biological terrorism. The authors review the
effect ofProject BioShield on preparedness measures in theUnited States. They
also examine the shortcomingsof that law and discuss other biological
preparednesscountermeasures now under consideration. Finally, they offer
recommendations on how primary careand emergency department physicians, as
well asother public health providers, can best improve theirown skills at
preparing for, recognizing, andresponding to incidents of biological
terrorism.
