Updates to Disaster Management Strategies for CDC Category A Bioterrorism Agents

The goal of this paper is to provide current suggestions for a system-based response to a bioterrorism attack and discuss treatment options for CDC category A bioterrorism agents.

Vaccines for anthrax and Y. pestis are being developed, but they are not rapidly available in the USA. Vaccine distribution methodology for the recent M-pox outbreak was used that the smallpox vaccine could utilize. Two antibody therapies and one vaccine are available for Ebola but not for other viral hemorrhagic fever diseases. Recent health system stressors encountered during the COVID-19 pandemic are likely to impact health systems similarly during a bioterrorism attack.

Management strategies for common infectious diseases provide some protection during the initial response to a bioterrorism attack. Most treatment recommendations have not changed substantially, but the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the understanding of population-wide vaccination. Future research may focus on vaccine development or local testing for bioterrorism agents.