Bioterrorism in Canada: An Economic Assessment of Prevention and Postattack Response
The present paper calculates the human and economic consequences of a bioterrorist attack on Canadian soil using aerosolized Bacillus anthracis and Clostridium botulinum. The study assumed that 100,000 people in a Canadian suburban neighbourhood were exposed over a 2 h period to an infectious dose o...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2001-01-01
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| Series: | Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2001/904148 |
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| _version_ | 1832559194270597120 |
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| author | Ronald St John Brian Finlay Curtis Blair |
| author_facet | Ronald St John Brian Finlay Curtis Blair |
| author_sort | Ronald St John |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The present paper calculates the human and economic consequences of a bioterrorist attack on Canadian soil using aerosolized Bacillus anthracis and Clostridium botulinum. The study assumed that 100,000 people in a Canadian suburban neighbourhood were exposed over a 2 h period to an infectious dose of one of the agents. Using an epidemic curve based on the epidemiology and management of anthrax and botulinum poisoning, the costs of intervention and treatment after an attack were compared with the costs of preparedness before a bioterrorist attack. The results show that an investment in planning and preparedness to manage the consequences of an attack can reduce morbidity, mortality and economic costs. The sooner that an intervention program is instituted, the more significant are the health and economic benefits. The greatest benefits were realized when postattack intervention was initiated before day 3 after the event. The economic impact of a bioterrorist attack in Canada could range from $6.4 billion/100,000 exposed to B anthracis to $8.6 billion/100,000 exposed in an attack using C botulinum. Without the benefit of an effective consequence management program, predicted deaths totalled 32,875 from anthrax and 30,000 from botulinum toxin. Rapid implementation of a postattack prophylaxis program that includes the stockpiling of antibiotics, vaccines and antitoxins; training of first responders in the diagnosis, handling and treatment of pathogens; and the general enhancement of Canada's response capability would reduce both human and economic losses. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-21ab0521415744c8ae22e11b4396a2b2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1180-2332 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2001-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-21ab0521415744c8ae22e11b4396a2b22025-02-03T01:30:32ZengWileyCanadian Journal of Infectious Diseases1180-23322001-01-0112527528410.1155/2001/904148Bioterrorism in Canada: An Economic Assessment of Prevention and Postattack ResponseRonald St John0Brian Finlay1Curtis Blair2Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Population and Public Health Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaForeign Policy Program, The Century Foundation, Washington, DC, USACancer Bureau, Centre for Chronic Diseases Prevention and Control, Population and Public Health Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, CanadaThe present paper calculates the human and economic consequences of a bioterrorist attack on Canadian soil using aerosolized Bacillus anthracis and Clostridium botulinum. The study assumed that 100,000 people in a Canadian suburban neighbourhood were exposed over a 2 h period to an infectious dose of one of the agents. Using an epidemic curve based on the epidemiology and management of anthrax and botulinum poisoning, the costs of intervention and treatment after an attack were compared with the costs of preparedness before a bioterrorist attack. The results show that an investment in planning and preparedness to manage the consequences of an attack can reduce morbidity, mortality and economic costs. The sooner that an intervention program is instituted, the more significant are the health and economic benefits. The greatest benefits were realized when postattack intervention was initiated before day 3 after the event. The economic impact of a bioterrorist attack in Canada could range from $6.4 billion/100,000 exposed to B anthracis to $8.6 billion/100,000 exposed in an attack using C botulinum. Without the benefit of an effective consequence management program, predicted deaths totalled 32,875 from anthrax and 30,000 from botulinum toxin. Rapid implementation of a postattack prophylaxis program that includes the stockpiling of antibiotics, vaccines and antitoxins; training of first responders in the diagnosis, handling and treatment of pathogens; and the general enhancement of Canada's response capability would reduce both human and economic losses.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2001/904148 |
| spellingShingle | Ronald St John Brian Finlay Curtis Blair Bioterrorism in Canada: An Economic Assessment of Prevention and Postattack Response Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases |
| title | Bioterrorism in Canada: An Economic Assessment of Prevention and Postattack Response |
| title_full | Bioterrorism in Canada: An Economic Assessment of Prevention and Postattack Response |
| title_fullStr | Bioterrorism in Canada: An Economic Assessment of Prevention and Postattack Response |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bioterrorism in Canada: An Economic Assessment of Prevention and Postattack Response |
| title_short | Bioterrorism in Canada: An Economic Assessment of Prevention and Postattack Response |
| title_sort | bioterrorism in canada an economic assessment of prevention and postattack response |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2001/904148 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ronaldstjohn bioterrorismincanadaaneconomicassessmentofpreventionandpostattackresponse AT brianfinlay bioterrorismincanadaaneconomicassessmentofpreventionandpostattackresponse AT curtisblair bioterrorismincanadaaneconomicassessmentofpreventionandpostattackresponse |