Deck 78: Sentinel Laboratory Response to Bioterrorism

Question 1

The difference between an overt and a covert bioterrorism event is that a(n):

A)covert event is one that is carried out against undercover agents.
B)covert event is announced,and an overt event is not announced.
C)overt event is announced,and a covert event is not announced.
D)overt event is one that is carried out in the air.

Answer 1

C
Biocrime is either overt (announced)or covert (unannounced).The letters sent to Senators Daschle and Leahy in 2001 are examples of an overt event;a note inside each envelope announced that the individual opening it had been exposed to Bacillus anthracis spores.The package sent to the journalist at American Media Inc.is an example of a covert event;an environmental investigation of his office uncovered the anthrax spores after his death and the illness of a coworker.

Question 2

If a pinpoint colony on blood agar after 24 hours of incubation is isolated,and if the colony is oxidase-,urease-,and indole-negative,and also exhibits bipolar staining on Gram stain,then the suspect bioterror agent is most likely:

A)Bacillus anthracis.
B)Francisella tularensis.
C)Brucella spp.
D)Yersinia pestis.

Answer 2

D
Y.pestis exhibits all these characteristics.

Question 3

In the three-tier Laboratory Response Network,confirmed bioterrorism agents should be sent to which laboratory?

A)Clinical
B)Sentinel
C)Reference
D)National

Answer 3

D
Sentinel (formerly Level A)laboratories receive patient samples,rule out pathogens,and transfer suspicious specimens to reference laboratories.Reference laboratories possess the required reagents and technology to perform confirmatory testing on pathogens.These laboratories may be local public health,military,international,veterinary,agricultural,food,or water-testing laboratories.Confirmed bioterrorism agents are sent to a national laboratory.National laboratories,such as those at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),the U.S.Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases,or the Naval Medical Research Center,are responsible for the definitive characterization of agents.

Question 4

Bioterrorism is a term used to describe the act of using:

A)horrific events to deliver harm to living beings.
B)microorganisms to harm the civilian population intentionally.
C)microorganisms to wage war in peacetime.
D)living beings to wage war in peacetime.

Question 5

The act of using microorganisms to harm the civilian population intentionally is referred to as:

A)biosecurity.
B)bio crime.
C)microterrorism.
D)cactiterrorism.