peer reviewed article summaries

Dan Erickson, Nick Caruso
Biology H
May 4, 2007

Article 1
Tularemia of the Head and Neck: A Possible Sign of Bioterrorism
By Howard D. Stupak, Michael C. Scheuller, David N. Schindler, David E. Ellison
Ear, Nose, and Throat Journal
April 2003
Obtained: May 4, 2007

This article talks about tularemia and its potential as a biological weapon. It discusses a diagnosis of symptoms for tularemia and how it can possibly be cured. The article gives a case report of a man who was infected, how the disease is transmitted and treatments.

Article 2
Highlights From the Annual Scientific Assembly: Weapons of Mass Destruction: Organized Medicine's Role in the National Response to Terrorism.
By Esther L. Smith
Southern Medical Journal
December 2001
Obtained: May 4, 2007

This article gives the details on what a select amount of anthrax could do in different conditions if dropped from an airplane. The article also explains the history of biological warfare and plans for the US to be ready to face a biological attack.

Article 3
Preventing Biological Warfare
Environmental Health Perspectives
November 2001
Obtained: May 4, 2007

This article tells of a group developed at the University of Bradford in England where a group developed to help prevent biological warfare. The group helps the BTWC and analyzes developments that help prevent and outlaw the use of biological weapons anywhere in the world.

Article 4
THE POWER OF PREVENTION
Charles W. Schmidt
Environmental Health Perspectives
November 2001
Obtained: May 4, 2007

This article examines the good and bad parts of the BTWC. It tells of the shortcomings because the US DoD estimates that there are around 12 countries cheating on the treaty that bans biological weapons. It examines the reasons for not inspecting countries facilities and tells why it should happen also.

Article 5
RECOGNIZING AND RESPONDING TO AN ATTACK WITH A BIOLOGICAL WEAPON
By Brian P. Schmidt, Mondira Bhattacharya, Dale N. Gerding
Southern Medical Journal
November 2001
Obtained: May 4, 2007

This article tells how the US Healthcare system is vulnerable to a biological attack and even if one occurred, would it be recognized? It lists potential diseases that could be used in biological weapons and the requirements to detect an attack early on.

Article 6
JAMA Consensus Statement: Anthrax as a Biological Weapon
By Esther L. Smith
Southern Medical Journal
November 2001
Obtained: May 7, 2007

This article features the history behind anthrax including its discovery, use and treatments. It gives background information on how long anthrax could potentially last in the air and methods that could be used to help stop the spread of infection.

Article 7
Chemical-Biological Terrorism and Its Impact on Children: A Subject Review
By Pediatrics
March 2000
Obtained: May 7, 2007

This article discusses the possible impact of biological or chemical weapon use on children. It tells of “special vulnerabilities” and environmental impacts from the weapons.

Article 8
Chemical and Biological Weapons: New Questions, New Answers
By Ernie Hood
Environmental Health Perspectives
December 1999
Obtained: May 7, 2007

This article discusses developments that occurred in the biological and chemical warfare research industry. It also tells of factors that mean there is more likely to be an attack on civilian and military personnel of the USA and the DoD doing research projects to prevent attacks and to help contain the attack if there is one.

Article 9
Biothreats--What you SHOULD KNOW
By Kathiann M. Kowalski
Current Health 2
February 2004
Obtained: May 7, 2007

This article looks at what the threat is, how susceptible we are to being attacked, what our defenses are, and tells that “being informed is important.” (Dr. Schable, CDC)

Article 10
Conference warns of danger of re-emergence of smallpox as weapon of bioterror
By Fiona Fleck
Bulletin of the World Health Organization
2003
Obtained: May 7, 2007

This article discusses a Geneva conference in which experts from around the world told governments that smallpox could surface as a product for biological terrorism. It also tells how many governments have been doing “ring vaccinations” which means that as of right now, they are vaccinating key people only.