Itec bioterrorism

Discussion: Biodetection has increased in importance as international threats are increasingly assessed and determined to be valid.  Since Sept. 11, 2001, there has been a signifcant increase in  surveillance systems and biosensor prototypes.  These sound like great concepts and are necessary as each day that passes before an attack is detected could result in tens, hundreds, or even thousands of deaths. Read 1. "Biodetection Architectures" (47pages) . It is from 2003, but identifies some key aspects of a biodetection system. 2.   BioWatch, a network of sensors that detects certain threat agents, is a federal program that originated in 2003. Read the Summary, Chapter 1 and Chapter 2 (total of 50 pages) from  BioWatch and Public Health Surveillance (2011). This will introduce you to our current system of environmental detectors for the civilian population. But how effective has it been?  The following November 15, 2015 LA Times article provides a critical review, U.S. system to detect bioterrorism can't be counted on, government watchdog finds  3. Syndromic Surveillance has been tried for nearly 15 years for the purpose of rapid detection soon after an outbreak (after symptoms are manifest). Read this early piece, "Implementing Syndromic Surveillance: A Practical Guide" (2004). Organizations at every level have developed various systems (National Syndromic Surveillance System, ESSENCE, etc.), but we do not have the time in this course to go into any one (much less all!) of them. Be familiar with the approach, though.  4. Wearable sensors may be the future of early biodetection?  Digital Health: Tracking Physiomes and Activity Using Wearable Biosensors Reveals Useful Health-Related Information from PLOS Biology (January 2017)  DISCUSSION TOPIC for WEEK 9:   If you could only invest in ONE system -- (1) Environmental Detection (Biowatch); (2) Syndromic Surveillance; (3) Wearable Sensors --  to defend the United States population, which would it be and why? You must address why your choice is superior in a key way to the other two.