Lessons Learned from a Bioterrorism Exercise
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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