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This Website is supported by funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation.
Home > Areas of Focus > Agents and Diseases
Agents and Diseases
  

Information, analysis, and recommendations related to the agents and diseases representing the greatest biological threats. Background information on biological agent categories and threat assessment.

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Agent Fact Sheets

Bacillus anthracis (Anthrax)
Botulinum toxin (Botulism)
Francisella tularensis (Tularemia)
Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses (VHF)
Variola virus (Smallpox)
Yersinia pestis (Plague)
 

Recent Developments
Includes items from the Biosecurity Briefing and the Clinicians' Biosecurity Network.

Recent Developments - Biological Agents

Articles written by Center staff relating to biological agents.

  1. CDC Reports Vaccinia Infections among Laboratory Workers, Stresses Importance of Vaccination and Biosafety (04-25-2008)

    Biosecurity Briefing: According to the CDC, state health departments reported a total of five cases of laboratory-acquired vaccinia infection to the CDC between 2005-2007. Vaccinia (VACV) is the live virus component of the smallpox vaccine.
    Mon, 28 Apr 2008 14:02:55 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/smallpox/2008-04-25-cdcrptsinfectionlabwrkrs.html

  2. Acambis Wins USG Contract for Smallpox Vaccine (04-25-2008)

    Biosecurity Briefing: Reuters reported that British vaccine developer Acambis won a $425 million, 10-year contract to supply the U.S. govt with 9 million doses of the ACAM2000 smallpox vac. each year for delivery to the Strategic National Stockpile.
    Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:51:43 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/smallpox/2008-04-25-acambisusgsmallpoxvac.html

  3. CDC Publishes Report on Meeting of Experts to Update Guidelines for Management of Anthrax (04-14-2008)

    2008: CDC convened subjects matter experts to review and update guidelines for anthrax TX and make consensus recommendations for updating guidelines for PEP, TX, and clinical eval of patients. Read summary of EID's report.
    Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:36:17 GMThttp://www.upmc-cbn.org/report_archive/2008/04_April_2008/cbnreport_04142008.html

[Biosecurity Briefing Archive | Clinicians' Biosecurity Network Report Archive]


Center Publications and Original Articles

Publications on Biological Agents

Articles written by Center staff relating to biological agents.

  1. Smallpox and Monkeypox

    Henderson DA, Borio LL. In: Guerrant RL, Walker DH, Weller PF, eds. Tropical Infectious Diseases: Principles, Pathogens and Practices, Volume I. New York: Elsevier; 2006:621-634.
    Sun, Jan 01 2006 17:02:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/resources/publications/2006_orig-articles/2006-01-01-smallpoxmonkeypox.html

  2. Disease Eradication and Control

    Henderson DA. In: Guerrant RL, Walker DH, Weller PF, eds. Tropical infectious Diseases: Principles, Pathogens and Practices, Vol I. New York: Elsevier; 2006:68-72.
    Sun, Jan 01 2006 17:01:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/resources/publications/2006_orig-articles/2006-01-01-diseaseeradicationcontrol.html

  3. How Clean is Safe? Reopening Public Facilities after a Biological Attack

    Berns K, Atlas RM, Barbeito MS, et al. Com on Standards and Policies for Decontaminating Public Facilities Affected by Exposure to Harmful Biological Agents. National Academy of Sciences. 2005 Jul.
    Fri, Jul 15 2005 19:17:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/resources/publications/2005_orig-articles/2005-07-15-howcleanissafereopeningpublicfacilities.html

  4. Anthrax Countermeasures: Current Status and Future Needs

    Borio L, Gronvall GK. Biosecurity and Bioterrorism. 2005;3(2):102-112.
    Wed, Jun 15 2005 21:08:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/resources/publications/2005_orig-articles/2005-06-15-anthraxcountermeasures.html

  5. Smallpox: From Eradication to Resurrection

    Henderson DA. Nova Acta Leopoldina. 2005;344:111-116. (Halle, Germany)
    Sat, Jan 01 2005 19:15:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/resources/publications/2005_orig-articles/2005-01-01-smallpoxeradicationresurrection.html

  6. Plague as an Agent of Bioterrorism

    Borio L. In: Mandell GL, Bennett JE, Dolin R, eds. Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 6th Edition. Philadelphia, PA: Churchill Livingstone; 2005.
    Sat, Jan 01 2005 19:14:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/resources/publications/2005_orig-articles/2005-01-01-plagueagentbioterrorism.html

  7. Smallpox Vaccine

    Henderson DA. In de Quadros CA , ed. Vaccines: Preventing Disease and Protecting Health. Washington, DC: Pan American Health Organization; 2004:281-286.
    Wed, Jun 30 2004 19:09:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/resources/publications/2004_orig-articles/2004-06-30-smallpoxvaccine.html

  8. Inhalational Anthrax: Radiologic and Pathologic Findings in Two Cases

    Wood BJ, DeFranco B, Ripple M, Topiel M, Chiriboga C, Mani V, Barry K, Fowler D, Masur H, Borio L. American Journal of Roentgenology. 2003;181(4):1071-1078. October 1, 2003.
    Wed, Oct 01 2003 17:59:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/resources/publications/2003_orig-articles/2003-10-01-inhalationalanthraxradiologicpathologicfindings.html

  9. Smallpox Vaccination (vaccinia) A Review, Part II Adverse Events

    Fulginiti VA, Papier A, Lane JM, Neff JM, Henderson DA. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2003;37(2):251-271.
    Tue, Jul 15 2003 17:57:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/resources/publications/2003_orig-articles/2003-07-15-smallpoxvaccinationreview2.html

  10. Smallpox Vaccination (vaccinia) A Review

    Fulginiti VA, Papier A, Lane JM, Neff JM, Henderson DA. Clinical Infectious Diseases. 2003;37(2):241-50.
    Tue, Jul 15 2003 17:55:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/resources/publications/2003_orig-articles/2003-07-15-smallpoxvaccinationreview1.html

[Complete list of Center publications and articles on this topic]


Center Commentary

Ten Notable Publications of 2007 (01-10-2008)

Learning from the XDR-TB Experience: Policy Priorities Going Forward (06-06-2007)


Congressional Testimony and Briefings

Testimony on Biosecurity Agent

Congressional testimony by Center staff regarding biological agents.

  1. Biological Threats and the Importance of Preparedness

    Presentation delivered by Dr. Tom Inglesby at a Capitol Hill briefing sponsored by Trust for America's Health entitled "Ready or Not? Protecting the Public's Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism."
    Thu, Mar 13 2008 17:52:25 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/resources/hearings/content/2008/2008-03-03-biothreatsbriefing.html

  2. Six Years After Anthrax: Are We Better Prepared to Respond to Bioterrorism? (10-23-2007)

    Testimony of Tara O'Toole before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
    Tue, Oct 23 2007 16:48:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/resources/hearings/content/Hearings_2007/20071023-sixyearsafteranthrax.html

  3. Terrorism through the Mail: Protecting Postal Workers and the Public--Part II (10-31-2001)

    Testimony of Dr. Tara O'Toole before the Subcommittee on International Security, Proliferation and Federal Services; Committee on Government Affairs; U.S. Senate
    Wed, Oct 31 2001 15:21:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/resources/hearings/content/Hearings_2001/20011031protectpostalwrkrs_pt2.html


Center Events and Scenarios

Atlantic Storm.
Washington, DC. January 14, 2005.

National Symposium on Medical and Public Health Response to Bioterrorism.
Washington, DC. February 16–17, 1999.

  
Multimedia

Atlantic Storm Interactive

Slide lecture: Polio Eradication: A Reconsideration of Strategy, a lecture delivered by Dr. D.A. Henderson for the John Snow Society (the 2007 Annual Pumphandle Lecture). Listen to the lecture | View the slides


U.S. Government Documents

U.S. government documents and reports related to biological agents and diseases

U.S. government documents – all topic areas

Biosecurity-related federal legislation
   
See Also

Background information on biological agent categories and threat assessment

Biosecurity Briefing Archive: Agents and Diseases

Clinicians' Biosecurity Network Report Archive: Agents and Diseases

Emergency Preparedness and Biodefense Interest Group: Seminars

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Emergency Preparedness and Response


U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Smallpox website

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA):

Eurosurveillance BICHAT Guidelines for Clinical Management:

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