January 05 Newsletter

The emergence of bioterrorism as a threat is creating new responsibilities for the medical community and, for the first time in history, is putting physicians at the forefront of managing disaster, according to an article titled "The Doctor's Role in Bioterrorism", by Institute researchers in The Lancet.

"Unlike other forms of terrorism, in which an acute exposure or traumatic injury is rapidly inflicted and quickly recognized, such as the 9/11 attacks, bioterrorism may involve an incubation period of days or even weeks," says Bruce W. Clements, MPH, lead author of the article. "During these events, patients will turn to their most trusted advisers on health issues-their doctors-who will be expected to recognize sometimes rare conditions and take appropriate action. This means doctors will be the tip of the sword-not the military, not the police, not the firefighters."

Clements presents his argument in an article published in the Dec. 18 issue of the medical journal, The Lancet. Clements, and his co-author R. Gregory Evans, Ph.D., MPH, argue that this transfer of first-responder status puts greater responsibility on doctors, a responsibility that they currently are not prepared to shoulder.
"They will be in the driver's seat deciding how an outbreak will be managed so they must be trained for it," Clements says. "The challenge lies in finding the balance between suspicion and hysteria."

Clements notes it is a delicate balance because most potential bioterrorism agents listed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) -such as those that cause smallpox, anthrax, botulism, plague, tularemia-initially present in patients as flu-like symptoms.

Professor Clements' article has received press and television coverage both domestically and internationally. A partial list of news outlets covering the article's publication include The St. Louis Business Journal, Infection Control Today, Science Daily, NavySeals.com, and the Israel Herald.

Text of the article is available on the Lancet website (free registration required) at http://www.thelancet.com/journal/supplement/vol364/isss1/contents.

Have a question or comment? Email bioterr@slu.edu