Osterholm M T
Infection Control Advisory Network, Inc, MN 55344, USA.
Postgrad Med. 1999 Aug;106(2):121-4, 129-30. doi: 10.3810/pgm.1999.08.646.
Even with the technologic sophistication available in the United States today, effectiveness in dealing with a bioterrorist event is limited. Current surveillance systems may be inadequate to detect attacks. Because the onset of illness after exposure to an agent is delayed, even the time and location of the attack may be vague. In addition, most of the medical community is unfamiliar with many of the high-threat diseases, so identification of the problem may be further delayed. Many of us who are involved in studying the many aspects of bioterrorism believe that it is not a question of if such an event will occur but rather when, as well as which agent will be used and how extensive the damage will be. Given the enormity of what is possible, we must prepare for a potential nightmare.
即便当今美国拥有先进的技术手段，应对生物恐怖袭击事件的成效依然有限。当前的监测系统或许不足以察觉袭击。由于接触病原体后发病存在延迟，甚至袭击发生的时间和地点都可能模糊不清。此外，医学界大多数人对许多高威胁疾病并不熟悉，因此对问题的识别可能会进一步延迟。我们当中许多参与生物恐怖主义诸多方面研究的人认为，此类事件不是会不会发生的问题，而是何时会发生，以及会使用何种病原体、造成的破坏会有多广泛的问题。鉴于可能发生的情况极其严重，我们必须为一场潜在的噩梦做好准备。
