*Dr. Monica GS
**Dr. Nabeesa SP
***Dr. Md. Shafi Ahmed Meeran
****Dr. R. Ganesh
The Journal
Knowledge, attitude and awareness of Bioterrorism
among Medical Professionals in Trivandrum district of
Kerala
Background and objectives : To assess the awareness, knowledge, ability and management skills
of a bioterror event among medical professionals in Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala, India.
Methods : The study was conducted among 430 medical professionals in Trivandrum District of
Kerala
Results : Out of 430 questionnaires delivered, 99% of the medical professionals were aware of the
fatal issues of bio-terrorism and 72.4% showed willingness to provide assistance in response to bio-
terrorism event.
Interpretations and conclusions : Bioterrorism possess potential threat towards a developing
country like India. Keeping this in mind, a high priority should be established in providing medical
professionals with copious knowledge as well as training session related to the same.
Introduction
Bioterrorism is the deliberate release of
organisms or harmful bio agents to cause havoc
in people, animals and plants. It is one of the
recent effective and destructive potential tools
of warfare. Terrorists tend to use biological
agents because they are difficult to detect and
do not cause illness from several hours to
several days, agents are relatively easy and
inexpensive to obtain and it can be easily
disseminated and can cause widespread fear
and panic.
Marlong was the first to discuss the potential
role of health care providers in military and
civilian disaster response support (1).General
antiterrorism training effects was established
3 trade center bombing in
after New York world
1993.In 1997 US department of defense’s
made steps to immunize their military troops
against biological agents. In 2001 USSR
implicated the needs for increased training and
education about bioterrorism.US diplomats are
concerned that India could be the next target of
a bioterror attack with fatal disease such as
anthrax being released into the country before
spreading into world (2).
The plethora of indigenous highly pathogenic
and virulent agents naturally occurring in India
and the India industrial base combined with the
weak controls makes India as much a target.
Focus was thrown on the lack of preparedness
of Indian authorities for such an attack it is
essential for the government to take
appropriate measures to prevent the mass
disasters .to assist the government the doctors
should be in the first line of reestablishment
committee for health care. Thus this survey was
conducted to access the awareness,
knowledge, ability and management skills of a
bioterror event among medical professionals in
Thiruvananthapuram.
* Post Graduate Student, Dept of Periodontology & Oral Implantology, Maharaja Ganga Singh Dental College & Research Centre, Sriganganagar, Rajasthan
** Consultant, Penna Dental Studios, Chennai
***Implantologist, Penna Dental Studios, Chennai
****Reader,Dept. of Public Health Dentistry, Priyadarshini Dental College and Hospital, Pandur, Thiruvallur
28
Vol. 14 No. 2
May-August 2018