Franz D R, Jahrling P B, Friedlander A M, McClain D J, Hoover D L, Bryne W R, Pavlin J A, Christopher G W, Eitzen E M
US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Md, USA.
JAMA. 1997 Aug 6;278(5):399-411. doi: 10.1001/jama.278.5.399.
Concern regarding the use of biological agents--bacteria, viruses, or toxins--as tools of warfare or terrorism has led to measures to deter their use or, failing that, to deal with the consequences. Unlike chemical agents, which typically lead to violent disease syndromes within minutes at the site of exposure, diseases resulting from biological agents have incubation periods of days. Therefore, rather than a paramedic, it will likely be a physician who is first faced with evidence of the results of a biological attack. We provide here a primer on 10 classic biological warfare agents to increase the likelihood of their being considered in a differential diagnosis. Although the resultant diseases are rarely seen in many countries today, accepted diagnostic and epidemiologic principles apply; if the cause is identified quickly, appropriate therapy can be initiated and the impact of a terrorist attack greatly reduced.
对将生物制剂——细菌、病毒或毒素——用作战争或恐怖主义工具的担忧，促使人们采取措施阻止其使用，若无法阻止，则应对其后果。与化学制剂不同，化学制剂通常在接触部位数分钟内就会引发严重的疾病综合征，而生物制剂导致的疾病有几天的潜伏期。因此，首先面对生物攻击结果证据的很可能是医生，而非护理人员。我们在此提供一份关于10种经典生物战剂的入门指南，以增加在鉴别诊断中考虑到它们的可能性。尽管如今在许多国家很少见到由此引发的疾病，但公认的诊断和流行病学原则仍然适用；如果能迅速确定病因，就可以开始适当的治疗，并大大降低恐怖袭击的影响。
