by Alison Hayward, MD
SDN Staff Writer

A patient arrives at your hospital complaining of fever, malaise, and cough. You think nothing of it – until you notice the thirty other patients who have appeared in the waiting room with the same symptoms. A sudden flu outbreak? You realize with concern that it’s not flu season….

Clinicians must be trained to be watchful for the red flags of a biological or chemical terrorist attack. Although rare, the astute diagnosis of a biochemical weapon causing a patient’s symptoms can provide lifesaving treatment in the nick of time.

The following are classified as high risk potential agents of terrorism because they can be quickly disseminated, and would likely cause widespread societal panic and require sweeping public health actions to contain. Read the full story