Overview - PH 462: Bioterrorism Preparedness & Response

After completing PH 462, learners will be proficient in participating in bioterrorism-related public health preparedness and response activities. Key aspects of this competency expectation build on the general public health preparedness and response competencies in PH 461 and include:

• defining bioterrorism
• identifying Category A, B, and C biological agents, and their unique characteristics and relevance to bioterrorism events and threats
• describing the relative role of first responders and public health in response to bioterrorism
• describing, in general terms, recent federal public health service initiatives for bioterrorism preparedness
• describing the proper response to an announced anthrax threat in the form of a letter
• identifying the basic laboratory technologies that are being used at present and that will be used in the future to diagnose bioterrorist threats
• describing the basic differences in the public health response to a contagious versus a point-source aerosol release of a bioterrorism agent
  

This course involves several learning activities; see the PH 462 Exercises document for detailed instructions.

• Content: the content for this course is provided in the specific readings and other resources identified in the PH 462 Exercises document.
• Office Hours: This messaging system was created to handle questions and announcements. Visit this site to introduce yourself to the course as well as to help you get familiar with the workings of the system.
• Exercises:
  1. Individual Exercise: submit the completed individual exercise under the link "Submit Assignments". Your instructor will provide feedback by replying to your posting
  2. Conferencing Exercise: add your contribution to this multi-learner conferencing exercise.
  3. Assessment Quiz: complete and submit the multiple choice assessment quiz for PH 462.

The instructor will evaluate your responses to the various exercises and indicate when you have successfully completed PH 462. For learners interested in going beyond the basics, a list of additional resources, including readings and other materials, is available through the Additional Resources link. This list emphasizes the most up-to-date materials. Information on related courses is provided in the PH 460 Course Series Syllabus. PH 463 (or any other course) can begin whenever you wish, so feel free to begin the readings that are identified for the course that you plan to take next.

PH 462 Overview last revised July 1, 2004 (bturnock)