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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. Novel Strain of Arenavirus Circulating in South Africa (11-03-2008)

    Biosecurity Briefing: On October 13, 2008, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that 4 recent deaths in Zambia and South Africa resulted from infection with a novel strain of Arenavirus.
    Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:58:59 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/vhf/2008-11-03-novelarenavirussoafrica.html

  2. BARDA, NIAID Award Anthrax Monoclonal Antibody Contract; NIAID Awards Botulinum Antitoxin Contract (09-15-2008)

    Biosecurity Briefing: On September 3, 2008, Emergent BioSolutions, Inc., announced that it had been awarded a $24.3 million contract to develop its anthrax monoclonal antibody AVP-21D9. The contract was awarded jointly by BARDA and NIAID.
    Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:32:36 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/countrmeasr_dev/2008/2008-09-15-anthraxantibodybotulinumantitox.html

  3. Study Examines Role of Human Migration Patterns in Re-Emergence of Tuberculosis in Beijing (09-08-2008)

    Biosecurity Briefing: The September 2008 issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID) includes an article regarding tuberculosis cases in Beijing, drawing attention to the contribution of migration patterns to the total disease burden in the city.
    Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:09:32 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/biosecurity_briefing/archive/agents_diseases/other/2008-09-08-migrantpoptbbeijing.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, 01 Jan 2006 16:02:00 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, 01 Jan 2006 16:01:00 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, 15 Jul 2005 18:17:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/resources/publications/2005_orig-articles/2005-07-15-howcleanissafereopeningpublicfacilities.html

  4. Smallpox Vaccine

    Henderson DA. In de Quadros CA , ed. Vaccines: Preventing Disease and Protecting Health. Washington, DC: Pan American Health Organization; 2004:281-286.
    Thu, 30 Jun 2005 15:07:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/resources/publications/2004_orig-articles/2004-06-30-smallpoxvaccine.html

  5. Anthrax Countermeasures: Current Status and Future Needs

    Borio L, Gronvall GK. Biosecurity and Bioterrorism. 2005;3(2):102-112.
    Wed, 15 Jun 2005 20:08:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/resources/publications/2005_orig-articles/2005-06-15-anthraxcountermeasures.html

  6. Smallpox: From Eradication to Resurrection

    Henderson DA. Nova Acta Leopoldina. 2005;344:111-116. (Halle, Germany)
    Sat, 01 Jan 2005 18:15:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/resources/publications/2005_orig-articles/2005-01-01-smallpoxeradicationresurrection.html

  7. 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, 01 Jan 2005 18:14:00 GMThttp://www.upmc-biosecurity.org/website/resources/publications/2005_orig-articles/2005-01-01-plagueagentbioterrorism.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, 01 Oct 2003 16:59:00 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, 15 Jul 2003 16:57:00 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, 15 Jul 2003 16:55:00 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

Letter of Support for The Select Agent Program and Biosafety Improvement Act of 2008 (06-17-2008)

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 (03-03-2008)

    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."
    Mon, 07 Apr 2008 21:06:29 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, 23 Oct 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, 31 Oct 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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