engleski

Croatian Experiance in the Prevention of the Terrorist Use of Antrax Spores in 2001

As it is well known, terrorist attacks with spores of Bacillus anthracis started in October 2001.Envelopes containing antrax spores were sent, through US postal system to goverment officials, big broadcasting houses and private companies. The first cases of pulmonary antrax in the USA were followed by widespread fear and many subsequent fake attacks all over the world.As many other countries, Croatia was faced with these threats too and was forced act quickly and efficiently. On 17 October 2001 the Health Crisis Headquarters was activated by Croatian Ministry of Health.There were experts for biooterrorism, epidemiology, microbiology, toxicology, veterinary medicine as well as experts from the police and army forces included. Within 24 hours upon their first session, guidelines for all important public health services (epidemiology, microbiology, toxicology, veterinary medicine, hospitals, , police...) as well as instructions for postal officers and all staff working with mail, were made and applied in practice. By the end of December 2001, 587 samples, mostly envelopes and packages, were bacteriologically processed in laboratories of few Public Health Institutes.Direct microbiological testing (culturing)was made.All results were negative.Restricted chemoprophylaxis was carried out in 186 persons (before the laboratory results had been known).At the end of October, an arrangement was made with some Embassies to sterilize their incoming mail what presented a great relief for the microbiology service. Along with this professional measures, daily information on TV, radio and press futher diminished fear and prevented panic outbrakes in Croatia in those days.

Prevention; Terrorist Use; Antrax; Spores

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