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Demystifying Bioterrorism: Misinformation and Misperceptions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Eric Noji ,
Tress Goodwin  and
Michael Hopmeier
Eric Noji*
Affiliation:
Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC, USA
Tress Goodwin
Affiliation:
Unconventional Concepts, Inc., Mary Esther, Florida, USA
Michael Hopmeier
Affiliation:
Unconventional Concepts, Inc., Mary Esther, Florida, USA
*
Office of Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 200 Independence Avenue, SW Room 719-B, Washington, DC 20201USA
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Abstract

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The true threat of bioterrorism remains mysterious and elusive to the common citizen. It principally has become the dominion of a few “experts”, many of whom have limited apparent expertise, who have failed to effectively communicate the risks and realities to society, and have instead created an air of uncertainty surrounding the topic. Unlike the great classic deceptions of modern life (e.g., “the check is in the mail”), the misinformation and misperceptions associated with bioterrorism can be dangerous and are not merely humorous. Indeed, it is possible to grasp the facts as well as fallacies associated with bioterrorism, and, as a result, demystify this nightmare scenario and prepare for the “unthinkable”.

Keywords

auto-immune deficiency syndromebioterrorismmisinformationmisperceptionspreparednesssevere acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
Type
Editorial
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 20 , Issue 1 , February 2005 , pp. 3 - 6
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2005

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