Public Health Response to Biological and Chemical Weapons : WHO Guidance

by Robinson, Julian Perry

• ISBN13: 9789241546157
• ISBN10: 9241546158
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-02-01
• Publisher: STYLUS PUBLISHING LLC

Summary

This second edition like the first analyses the public health aspects of the possible hostile use of biological or chemical agents. It describes how biological and chemical agents may endanger public health; provides the standard principles of risk analyses that Member States may undertake to prepare for the deliberate release of biological or chemical agents; and presents national and international laws including their potential role in mobilizing international assistance and available sources of such assistance. Seven technical annexes cover chemical agents toxins biological agents principles of protection precautions against the sabotage of drinking-water food and other products information resources and the affiliation of WHO Member States to the international treaties on biological and chemical weapons.

Table of Contents

Foreword	viii
Acknowledgements	x
Executive summary	xi
Abbreviations and acronyms	xiv
Contributors	xvi
Introduction
Developments since the first edition	1	(2)
Origin and purpose of the present report	3	(2)
Some working definitions	5	(1)
Structure	6	(3)
Assessing the Threat to Public Health
Background	9	(2)
Technological developments	11	(6)
Advancing science	17	(1)
Preliminary threat assessment	18	(7)
Biological and Chemical Agents
The representative group of agents	25	(11)
Scope of the international treaties	27	(3)
Historical experience	30	(6)
Dissemination of biological and chemical agents	36	(2)
Routes of exposure	38	(4)
Respiratory system	38	(3)
Skin	41	(1)
Oronasal mucus and conjunctiva	41	(1)
Digestive system	41	(1)
Characteristics of biological agents	42	(2)
Characteristics of chemical agents	44	(2)
Consequences of using biological or chemical weapons	46	(5)
Short-term consequences	46	(1)
Long-term consequences	46	(4)
Psychological warfare aspects	50	(1)
Assessment and conclusions	51	(2)
Public Health Preparedness and Response
Background	53	(4)
Preparedness	57	(6)
Threat analysis	57	(2)
Pre-emption of attack	59	(1)
Preparing to respond	60	(2)
Preparing public information and communication packages	62	(1)
Validation of response capabilities	63	(1)
Response	63	(46)
Response before any overt release of a biological or chemical agent	63	(2)
Distinguishing features of biological and chemical incidents	65	(1)
Response to biological incidents	66	(10)
Response to chemical incidents	76	(10)
Appendix 4.1: Principles of risk analysis	86	(4)
Appendix 4.2: The sarin incidents in Japan	90	(8)
Appendix 4.3: The deliberate release of anthrax spores through the United States postal system	98	(11)
Legal Aspects
The 1925 Geneva Protocol	109	(1)
The 1972 Biological Weapons Convention	110	(4)
International obligations	111	(2)
National implementation	113	(1)
The 1993 Chemical Weapons Convention	114	(3)
International obligations	114	(1)
National implementation	115	(2)
Conclusions	117	(11)
Appendix 5.1: BWC implementing legislation	119	(4)
Appendix 5.2: CWC implementing legislation	123	(5)
International Sources of Assistance
United Nations	128	(4)
Investigation of alleged use	128	(2)
Humanitarian assistance	130	(2)
Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons	132	(2)
Biological Weapons Convention	134	(1)
World Health Organization	135	(2)
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations	137	(1)
World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)	138	(1)
Nongovernmental organizations	139	(1)
Contact information	139	(4)
ANNEX 1: CHEMICAL AGENTS
Introduction	143	(4)
Lethal chemicals	147	(33)
Lung irritants	149	(11)
Blood gases	160	(3)
Vesicants	163	(10)
Nerve gases	173	(7)
Disabling chemicals	180	(34)
Incapacitants	182	(8)
Harassing agents and other irritants	190	(24)
ANNEX 2: TOXINS
Introduction	214	(3)
Bacterial toxins	217	(12)
Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins	217	(1)
Clostridium botulinum neurotoxins	218	(2)
Aflatoxins and other fungal toxins	220	(2)
Algal and other plant toxins	222	(7)
ANNEX 3: BIOLOGICAL AGENTS
Introduction	229	(7)
Recognizing deliberate release	232	(1)
Prevention, protection and therapy	233	(1)
Specific agents	234	(2)
Bacteria	236	(27)
Bacillus anthracis/Anthrax (A22)	236	(7)
Brucella abortus, Brucella suis and Brucella melitensis/Brucellosis (A23)	243	(3)
Burkholderia mallei/Glanders (A24.0)	246	(2)
Burkholderia pseudomallei/Melioidosis (A24)	248	(2)
Francisella tularensis/Tularaemia (A21)	250	(4)
Yersinia pestis/Plague (A20)	254	(4)
Coxiella burnetii/Q Fever (A78)	258	(3)
Rickettsia prowazekii/Epidemic typhus (A75)	261	(2)
Fungi	263	(4)
Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii/Coccidioidomycosis (B38)	263	(4)
Viruses	267	(10)
Venezuelan equine encephalitis (A92.2)	267	(3)
Variola virus/Smallpox (B03)	270	(7)
ANNEX 4: PRINCIPLES OF PROTECTION
Introduction	277	(1)
Risk-reduction measures	277	(3)
Aministrative controls	278	(1)
Engineering controls	278	(1)
Physical protection	279	(1)
Individual protection	280	(5)
Respiratory protection	280	(3)
Skin protection	283	(1)
Special cases	284	(1)
Collective protection	285	(2)
An example of the application of risk management principles: the problem of potentially contaminated mail	287	(7)
Appendix A4.1: Problems related to protection	290	(4)
ANNEX 5: PRECAUTIONS AGAINST THE SABOTAGE OF DRINKING-WATER, FOOD AND OTHER PRODUCTS
Introduction	294	(3)
Prevention	297	(2)
Security	297	(1)
Reducing the availability of potential threat agents	298	(1)
Screening of employees	299	(1)
Detection	299	(1)
Response	300	(3)
Surveillance of water, food and other consumer products	300	(1)
Monitoring of contamination	301	(1)
Trace-back and market recall	301	(1)
Communications	302	(1)
Drinking-water supplies	303	(7)
Water sources	306	(1)
Raw water mains	306	(1)
Treatment plants	307	(1)
Piped distribution systems	307	(1)
Water tanks and water towers	308	(1)
Local piped distribution systems	308	(1)
Monitoring	309	(1)
Food	310	(6)
Agricultural pre-production, production and harvesting	312	(1)
Storage and transport of raw materials	313	(1)
Processing	313	(1)
Storage and transport of processed products	314	(1)
Wholesale and retail distribution	314	(1)
Food services and home food preparation	315	(1)
Other products	316	(1)
Conclusions	317	(3)
ANNEX 6: INFORMATION RESOURCES	320	(15)
Major texts and general sources	320	(5)
Task-specific sources	325	(7)
Hazard identification	325	(1)
Evaluation and management	326	(2)
Reduction and control	328	(4)
Resource-hosting websites	332	(3)
ANNEX 7: AFFILIATION OF WHO MEMBER STATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL TREATIES ON BIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL WEAPONS	335