CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response

This website provides information relating to the public health aspects of emergency preparedness and response, including links to specific hazards such as bioterrorism, chemical emergencies and radiation emergencies.

Department of Health: Emergency Planning

Emergency planning involves making NHS contingency plans and preparing for specific types of disasters and attacks. This website has a Deliberate Release section that provides information for Directors of Public Health and Consultants in Communicable Disease Control (CCDC) about specific substances or agents that could be used in terrorist attacks. Key documents include:

• Link to DH Smallpox Plan(15/12/2003) Guidelines for smallpox response and management in the post-eradication era (smallpox plan)
• Emergency Planning: UK Reserve National Stock for Major Incidents (4 December 2007) 
• Patient Group Directions and guidance, including biological countermeasures

UK Resilience

Information on emergency planning and support for emergency preparedness. See Terrorism page for advice on malicious threats, including chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) attack, and links to Home Office and Security Service advice.

HSE: Biological or Chemical Threats by Post

The Health and Safety Executive's guidelines on dealing with suspect packages.

WHO Guidance: Public Health Response To Biological And Chemical Weapons, 2004

The second edition of this book includes chapters on biological agents, toxins, chemicals, food and water safety and principles of protection.

WHO Teaching slides for Smallpox

A presentation that includes day-by-day photographs showing progression of disease and also differential diagnosis of smallpox from chickenpox. The page contains thumbnails of 36 jpgs - click on any to enlarge picture and access the presentation.

Center for Biosecurity at University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre

This site has disease specific pages with information, analysis, and recommendations related to the agents and diseases representing the greatest biological threats. The homepage contains links to relevant areas and resources including the journal Biosecurity and Bioterrorism.

Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at University of Minnesota

The CIDRAP web site is a useful source of information on the Category A agents with comprehensive overviews of the pathogenesis, microbiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prophylaxis of these bioagents.  It also provides information for public health preparedness and emerging infectious disease response.