Lessons Learned from a Full-Scale Bioterrorism Exercise
2000

Lessons Learned from a Bioterrorism Exercise

Sample size: 3700 Commentary

Author Information

Author(s): Richard E. Hoffman, Jane E. Norton

Primary Institution: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Conclusion

The exercise highlighted the challenges of managing a large-scale bioterrorism event and the need for effective coordination among various agencies.

Supporting Evidence

  • By the end of day three, 3,700 cases and 950 deaths were reported.
  • The exercise required new working relationships among various agencies.
  • Quarantining two million persons proved to be a complex challenge.

Takeaway

This study shows that if a lot of people get sick from a pretend bioterrorism attack, it can be really hard to help everyone and keep things organized.

Methodology

Participants engaged in a simulated bioterrorism attack, responding to a mock outbreak of pneumonic plague over three days.

Limitations

The exercise was a simulation and did not account for all real-world complexities of a bioterrorism event.

Participant Demographics

Participants included local, state, and federal officials, as well as hospital staff from three hospitals in metropolitan Denver.

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