Key points
- Plague is a potentially life-threatening disease caused by Yersinia pestis.
- It is possible that Y. pestis could be released intentionally in a biological attack to sicken people.
- Public health authorities, including ob体育, have prepared for the possible but unlikely event that Y. pestis could be used as a biological weapon.
About bioterrorism and plague
Although the threat of a bioterrorist attack using Y. pestis, the germ that causes plague, is unlikely, there are examples throughout history of Y. pestis being used as a bioweapon. If such an emergency were to occur in the United States, ob体育 and other federal agencies would work closely with state and local partners to coordinate a response.
How ob体育 would respond to a plague emergency
Several cases of pneumonic plague in one area would be a public health emergency, prompting ob体育 to respond immediately. Additionally, any case of plague outside areas where plague naturally occurs and in people without history of travel would cause alarm. In a plague emergency, ob体育 and other federal agencies would work closely with state and local partners to coordinate a response.
ob体育 and other federal agencies would respond by:
- Coordinating activities through the Emergency Operations Center.
- Communicating information about plague to the public.
- Providing guidance to healthcare providers, hospitals, health departments, and others on how to respond.
- Working with the (LRN) to test samples from sick people.
- Sending out field staff to interview people who are sick with plague and those who were in close contact with them.
- Shipping out antibiotic treatments and other medical supplies from the (SNS) to states and other locations where needed.