2007-01-03 13:40:46 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Sure, the possible agents are well-known. If an agent was intentionally released it would cause fear, but not widespread death (most candidate agents are not contagious). Even the contagious agents can be controlled. The problem will be recognition of what is happening, and that is one of the areas the preparation measures have focused. Once an agent is identified, the response will be appropriate. Control measures will include methods that have worked from centuries.
A good book to read is "Rats, Lice and History", by Hans Zinsser. He is the father of modern (1930s) Microbiology and Infectious Disease Epidemiology.
2007-01-03 13:48:14 · answer #1 · answered by Yo it's Me 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Bio-terrorist is not a realistic possiblity. I can assure you there is no way for a civilian group to engineer a highly dangerous, and highly contagious strain to release on a country (those who would like to cite the antrax scare of 2001, antrax is not a WMD, it is not contagious and has a very high survival rate). Also, there is no way for a governent to engineer and deliver biological weapons without the entire world knowing about it months or even years in advance.
However, if there was somehow a biological attack, the US would not be prepared to deal with it. Homeland Security is too slow and ineffiecent, and there has been almost no funding for counter-terrorism in local authorities. There are only 9 moble decontanination units to defend the entire country.
2007-01-03 22:05:31 · answer #2 · answered by Mabus 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
NO! WE are not prepared!! I know it's a different area then biomedical however lets look katrina! WE knew it was coming unlike terrorism! We knew when it was coming. We had homeland security! But for how long did those victims live in the
super dome?? Over a week with out food and water! So are we prepared for any kind of hit on America NO!!
2007-01-03 22:36:34 · answer #3 · answered by wondermom 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Of course not.There is no way to prepare,the citizens will not allow it.They would say that their rights were being infringed upon or that it was a scare tactic.Face it this country will never again be allowed to properly prepare for any catastrophe.
2007-01-03 21:56:39 · answer #4 · answered by ? 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Have you ever tried going to the emergency room on a busy weekend?
2007-01-03 21:58:33 · answer #5 · answered by ash 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hell NO! EXAMPLE: Katrina!!
I know this wasn't a biological attack, but it was an emergency that showed the Bush administration up for the blundering idiots that they are!
2007-01-03 21:48:38 · answer #6 · answered by CharlieB 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋
NO NO !! NO !!!
The Clowns in Washington are totally asleep at the helm. We are up for a very rude awakening.
2007-01-03 21:46:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
No, refer to anthrax fall of 2001.
2007-01-03 21:45:39 · answer #8 · answered by PARKERD 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
No if there was a dirty bomb in the US....1 in each major city (which I might add is possible) we would be screwed.
Our government can't handle anything right...most of all...our money.
2007-01-03 21:49:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
The US doesn't have enough flu shots most years, I doubt that it is ready for anything bigger.
2007-01-03 21:49:19 · answer #10 · answered by sudonym x 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋