Chemical and biological weapons can be the most devastating and uncontrollable that have ever been made by man. Biological weapons consist of any weapon created by man to disperse viruses, bacteria or toxins derived from living organisms, with the purpose of bringing death or disease to humans. Recent studies state that, in the event of a future terrorist attack, such an attack would be carried out through the use of biochemical weapons. This is not hard to believe, considering that many biochemicals can be created at home with readily available materials. Due to the nature of chemical and biological weapons, their most predictable use would be directed against a nation's population, where they could cause massive casualties and massive economic ruin. However, this does not mean that it is impossible to survive a biochemical attack: with the proper knowledge and preparation it can very well be a crisis that a person can overcome.
Steps
Step 1. Don't count on the availability of a vaccine
The flu vaccine that is currently being used against seasonal flu will not serve against a chemical or biological attack. New strains of the virus require new vaccines, which can take months or years to develop, and even longer for large-scale production and distribution.
Step 2. Stay informed
Should a pandemic of some kind break out, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other organizations, governmental and non-governmental, will provide information on the spread of the disease, as well as updates on vaccines or other medications, advice for your safety and warnings for travelers. WHO and CDC, as well as various national administrations, already have websites that provide the public with useful logistical information. Newspapers, television and radio broadcasters will also contribute to disseminating fundamental warnings and advice.
Step 3. Get your annual flu shot
While the current vaccine won't protect you from every flu or other "new" strains of the virus, it may help keep you healthy (by protecting you from some strains of the flu virus), which in turn could help your body. to better fight the virus, should I get infected.
Step 4. Get the pneumonia vaccination
During previous chemical or biological pandemics, many victims have died from a secondary infection of pneumonia. While the pneumococcal vaccine may not protect against all types of pneumonia, it can still improve your chances of surviving the pandemic. The vaccine is particularly recommended for people over the age of 65 or for those with chronic diseases, such as asthma or diabetes.
Step 5. If a healthcare provider or the government recommends it, use antiviral drugs
Two antiviral drugs, Tamiflu and Relenza, have shown the potential to effectively prevent and treat bird flu. Both are available by prescription only, and will likely only be effective if taken before the infection or soon after you get it. It should also be noted that further testing is needed to establish the true efficacy of these drugs against avian flu. They could also be rendered ineffective by possible mutations in the avian influenza virus.
Step 6. Wash your hands often
Hand washing may be the single and most powerful defense against bird flu and many other infectious diseases. In the event of a pandemic, you should wash your hands several times a day. Make sure you do it properly.
Step 7. Use an alcohol-based disinfectant
Since you probably can't wash your hands every time you touch something that could carry the virus, you should always carry an alcohol-based hand cleaner with you. These cleaners come in various forms, and can be used whenever you need a quick clean. Remember, however, that the use of these detergents is not a substitute for thorough hand washing, of which they should be a simple supplement.
Step 8. Avoid being in contact with infected organisms
At present, the only documented way to become infected with avian flu is to come into contact with infected birds or poultry products, and these vehicles of infection will continue to exist even if the virus mutates to make human-to-human transmission the more serious threat. Avoid handling anything that has been touched by an infected organism, and try to prevent pets (such as cats and house dogs) from coming into contact with infected organisms. If you work near live or dead infected organisms, for example, take certain precautions such as wearing protective gloves, respirators and aprons. Cook all foods carefully, at least 75 ° C in all their parts, and in preparation follow the appropriate food safety procedures, as you would to protect yourself from other threats, such as salmonella. Proper cooking kills most viruses.
Step 9. Limit social contacts
The most effective way to prevent infection is to avoid exposure to infected people. Unfortunately, it is not possible to establish who has been infected and who has not: by the time symptoms arise, a person is already contagious. Purposely limiting social contacts (especially with large groups of people) is a reasonable precaution in the event of a pandemic.
Step 10. Don't go to work
If you or other co-workers have fallen ill, you should stay away from your workplace, even in the absence of a pandemic. However, since people will usually become infected and contagious before showing symptoms, it is vital during a pandemic to stay away from places, such as work, where there is a high probability of coming into contact with an infected person..
Step 11. Try to work from home
A pandemic can last for months or even years, and waves of intense local outbreaks can last for weeks, so you can't just take a few days off to protect yourself from contagion in the workplace. If possible, try to find a job where you work from home. Today, a surprising variety of jobs can be done remotely, and employees are likely to offer - or be asked - to try this solution in the event of a pandemic.
Step 12. Keep the kids home from school
Every parent knows that children at school collect all kinds of microbes. Avoid public transport. Buses, planes, ships and trains bring large numbers of people together in confined spaces. Public transport is the ideal vehicle for the widespread spread of contagious diseases.
Step 13. Stay away from public events
During a pandemic, governments will likely cancel public events, but even if they don't, you should still stay away from it. Any gathering of people in close contact creates a high-risk situation.
Step 14. Put on a respirator
Most viruses can spread through the air, so in the event of a pandemic, it's a good idea to protect yourself from inhaling the virus if you're in public. While surgical masks simply prevent the wearer from spreading germs, respirators (which often resemble surgical masks) protect the wearer from inhaling them. You can buy disposable respirators or you can get reusable ones with replaceable filters. Use only respirators labeled with NIOSH certification, such as "N95", "N99" or "N100", which help protect against inhalation of very small particles. Respirators only protect when worn correctly, so make sure you follow the instructions exactly - they should cover your nose, with no openings between the mask and your face.
Step 15. Put on medical gloves
Gloves can prevent germs from settling on your hands, where they can be directly absorbed through open cuts or spread to other parts of the body. Latex or nitrile rubber medical gloves or heavy-duty rubber gloves can be used to protect hands. If torn or damaged, gloves should be removed, and hands thoroughly washed, after they have been removed.
Step 16. Protect your eyes
Some diseases can spread through contaminated droplets (from, for example, a sneeze or saliva) that enter the eyes or mouth. Wear a pair of glasses, even protective ones, to prevent this from happening, and avoid touching your eyes or mouth with your hands or with potentially contaminated materials.
Step 17. Properly dispose of potentially contaminated materials
Gloves, face masks, paper handkerchiefs and other potentially toxic materials should be handled with care and properly discarded. Place these materials in approved toxic waste containers or close them in clearly marked plastic bags.
Step 18. Prepare for disruption of services
In the event of a pandemic, many of the basic services we take for granted, such as electricity, telephone and public transport, could be temporarily disrupted. The absence of large-scale employees from work and the massive death toll can shut down everything from corner shops to hospitals.
Step 19. Always keep a small amount of cash, as banks may close and ATMs may be out of order
Talk to your family about preparing for an emergency. Make a plan for your children to know what to do and where to go in case you are unable to move or are killed, or if various family members cannot communicate with each other.
Step 20. Stock up on basic necessities
In the industrialized world, at the very least, food shortages and disruptions to services are likely to last no more than a week or two at a time. However, it is essential to be prepared for such an eventuality. Set aside a supply of water for two weeks for each family member. Keep at least 4 liters of water per person per day in transparent plastic containers.
Step 21. Set aside a food supply for two weeks
Choose non-perishable foods that do not require cooking or a large amount of water to prepare.
Step 22. Make sure you have an adequate supply of essential medicines
Step 23. At the first onset of symptoms, seek medical attention
The effectiveness of antiviral drugs decreases as the disease progresses, so prompt medical treatment is a must. If someone you have been in close contact with becomes infected, be sure to seek medical help even if you don't experience any symptoms.
Anthrax
Concrete data
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Responsible body (gender):
Bacillus anthracis (Bacteria)
- Form of contagion: inhalation, intestinal, cutaneous (through the skin)
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Incubation period
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Inhalation:
1-60 days
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Intestinal:
3-7 days
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Cutaneous:
1-2 days
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Lethality rate
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Inhalation:
90-100% of untreated cases, 30-50% of treated cases (this percentage rises with increasing delay in the use of antibiotics)
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Intestinal:
50% untreated, 10-15% treated
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Cutaneous:
20% untreated
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Treatment and vaccine:
Antibiotics such as Ciprofloxacin and Doxycycline are available at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the earlier the treatment is given, the better the chances of survival.
Symptoms
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Inhalation:
initially similar to those of the flu, such as: fever, headache, abdominal pain, chest pain, vomiting and cough, but without nasal congestion. They will eventually escalate into severe respiratory problems, and the victims will die of asphyxiation caused by the lungs filling up with blood and fluids.
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Intestinal:
it begins with abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, fever, sore throat and a painful ulceration at the base of the tongue.
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Cutaneous:
itchy red pustules begin to form all over the body, which then reduce to painful ulcerations that later form a scab.
If an Attack Occurs, React
- Cover your nose and mouth with tissue, possibly damp: it will filter some of the lethal spores.
- Leave the attack area immediately.
- Breathe lightly or, if possible, hold your breath until you have left the attack zone.
- Restrict your movements from a contaminated area to a safe area. The constant movement will spread the lethal spores. After you reach a safe area, take off any clothes that have been exposed and place them in a sealed plastic bag.
- Take a cold shower as soon as possible (hot or boiling water could open pores) using a large amount of soap. Wash your eyes with a saline solution or simply with warm water.
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Wait for antibiotic treatment. The key to survival is prompt antibiotic treatment.
Morva
Concrete data
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Responsible body (gender):
Burkholderia mallei (Bacteria)
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Form of contagion:
inhalation, cutaneous / mucous membranes
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Incubation period
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Inhalation:
10-15 days
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Cutaneous / mucosa:
1-5 days
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Lethality rate:
almost 100% in one month, without any treatment. Prompt medical intervention would likely reduce the odds, even though almost no medical data is available.
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Treatment and vaccine:
no vaccine available. Antibiotics, such as amoxicillin combined with clavulanic acid, Bactrim, ceftazidime or tetracyclines are taken for 50-150 days to effectively excrete the toxin.
Symptoms
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Inhalation:
it begins with fever, chills, sweating, headache, body aches, chest pains, and congestion. Later the glands in the neck begin to swell, and then pomonitis develops. Painful open sores begin to develop in internal organs and mucous membranes. Rashes filled with dark pus may also form.
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Cutaneous / mucosa:
painful ulcerations at the point of entry; swollen lymph nodes begin to form. Increased mucus production from the nose and mouth.
If an Attack Occurs, React
- Cover your nose and mouth with tissue, possibly damp: it will filter some of the lethal spores.
- Leave the attack area immediately.
- Breathe lightly or, if possible, hold your breath until you have left the attack zone.
- Wash your skin with soap and water.
- Keep your eyes under warm running water for 10-15 minutes.
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Wait for medical treatment from the emergency response teams. If a fever begins to develop, seek medical attention immediately.
Ricin
Concrete data
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Responsible body (gender):
Ricinus communis (toxin from a plant)
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Form of contagion:
inhalation, intestinal, for inoculation
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Incubation period
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Inhalation / intestinal / inoculation:
2-8 hours
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Lethality rate:
at a high standard dosage, lethality reaches a devastating 97%. Most victims will die within 24 to 72 hours after the first symptoms appear.
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Treatment and vaccine:
no treatment available, except activated charcoal for ingested ricin. A vaccine is currently in an experimental phase.
Symptoms
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Inhalation:
sudden onset of fever, cough, chest pain and nausea. Then you start to feel pain in the joints and shortness of breath. Breathing problems get worse over time.
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Ingestion / inoculation:
abdominal pain, nausea, bloody diarrhea and vomiting.
If an Attack Occurs, React
- Cover your nose and mouth with tissue, possibly damp: it will filter some of the lethal spores.
- Leave the attack area immediately.
- Breathe lightly or, if possible, hold your breath until you have left the attack zone.
- Wash your body, clothing and contaminated surfaces with soap and water or, if you have been exposed directly, with a low-bleach solution.
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Wait for instructions from emergency medical teams.
ATTACK WITH GAS
Gas attacks have existed since roughly the 5th century BC, when they were used in chemical warfare. [1] Today, the release of toxic gases could also be the result of a terrorist attack or industrial accident. [2] [3] While you should hope you never have to try it, knowing how to recognize and react to such a threat could save your life.
Chlorine gas
- Beware of any yellow-green gas with a strong bleach smell. During the First World War, some soldiers described it as a mixture of pepper and pineapple. If you are exposed to chlorine gas, you may find it hard to breathe and see, and you will feel a burning sensation.
- Move quickly to an area with clean air to minimize exposure to the gas.
- If you are indoors, get out of the building as soon as possible.
- If you are outdoors, move to higher ground. Since chlorine gas is denser than air, it will settle on the ground.
- Take a cotton swab or any other tissue and soak it in the urine. Bring it to your nose as if it were a mask. During World War I, the Canadian military survived the first large-scale chlorine attack by using urine instead of water, assuming urine crystallized gas.
- Take off any clothing that may have been exposed to the gas, making sure not to put it in contact with your face or head. Trim your clothes so they don't need to make further contact with your skin as you take them off. Close them in plastic bags.
- Wash your body thoroughly with plenty of soap and water. If your vision is blurred or your eyes are burning, rinse them; if you wear contact lenses, throw them away. However, water mixed with chlorine gas can turn into hydrochloric acid, so be careful.
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Call the emergency services and wait for help.
Mustard gas
- Watch out for gases, usually colorless, that smell like mustard, garlic, or onion - but note that mustard gas doesn't always smell. If you are exposed to mustard gas, you may notice the following symptoms, but they will only appear 2 to 24 hours after exposure:
- skin redness and itching, which then turns into yellow blisters
- eye irritation; in the event of severe exposure, sensitivity to light, severe pain or temporary blindness may occur
- respiratory tract irritation (runny nose, sneezing, hoarseness, bloody nose, pain in the nostrils, shortness of breath and cough)
- Move from the area where the gas was released to higher ground, as mustard gas is heavier than air.
- Take off any clothing that may have been exposed to the gas, making sure to put it in contact with your face or head. Trim your clothes so they don't need to make further contact with your skin as you take them off. Close them in plastic bags.
- Rinse all exposed parts of your body with plain water. The eyes should be washed for 10-15 minutes. Do not cover them with bandages; however, sunglasses or protective glasses are fine.
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Call the emergency services and wait for help.
Advice
- Buy and use self-powered radios AND self-powered flashlights. During any emergency, especially one of this order of magnitude, the batteries will not be available. Get this equipment IN ADVANCE. These devices will keep you informed and you will also have reliable lighting. The most recent of these tools will also be used to charge your mobile.
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Listen to qualified medical personnel at all times, even if their instructions contradict this article.
This article MAY NOT be 100% correct, and medical personnel probably have the necessary knowledge.
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