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Characteristics of Biological Agent and relavent case study

생물무기 특성과 사례연구

  • Park, Minwoo (Division of Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response, Korea Centers for Disease Contorl & Prevention) ;
  • Kim, Hwami (Division of Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response, Korea Centers for Disease Contorl & Prevention) ;
  • Choi, Yeonhwa (Division of Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response, Korea Centers for Disease Contorl & Prevention) ;
  • Kim, Jusim (Division of Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response, Korea Centers for Disease Contorl & Prevention)
  • Received : 2017.06.16
  • Accepted : 2017.12.11
  • Published : 2017.12.31

Abstract

Biological weapon is manipulated and produced from microorganisms such as bacteria, virus, rickettsia, fungi etc. It is classified as one of the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) along with chemical weapon and radiological weapon. Biological weapon has a number of operational advantages over the other WMDs including ease of development and production, low cost and possibility of covert dissemination. In this study we analyze the history of biological weapon's development and the existing biological threats. Then, we predict the social impact of biological attack based on the physical properties of biological agent and infection mechanisms. By analyzing the recognition, dispersion pattern of agents, characteristics of the diseases in the biological weapon related historical events such as Sverdlovsk anthrax accident, 2001 anthrax attack, we found out some of the facts that biological attack would not likely to be recognized rapidly, produce large number of the exposed, increase number of paients who suffed from severe respiratory illness. It would lead the public health and medical service providers to be struggled with hugh burden. Base on the facts that we found from this case study, we suggested the main capabilities of public health required to respond to bioterrorism event efficiently. Syndromic surveillance and other reporting system need to be operated effeciently so that any suspicious event should be detected promptly. the pathogen which suspected to be used should be identified through laboratory diagnostic system. It is critical for the public health agency to define potentially exposed population under close cooperation with law enforcement agencies. Lastly, massive prophylaxis should be provided rapidly to the people at need by operating human and material resources effeciently. If those capacities of public health are consistantly fortified we would be able to deal with threat of bioterrorism successfully.

생물테러에 사용되는 생물무기는 세균과 바이러스, 리켓치아, 곰팡이 등을 가공하여 만들어지며, 화학작용제, 방사능작용제와 함께 대량살상무기(Weapons of Mass Destruction, WMD)로 분류되어진다. 생물무기는 다른 대량살상무기들에 비하여 개발과 생산의 용이성, 저렴한 비용, 은닉살포가 가능하다는 운용상 이점들이 존재한다. 본 논문은 생물무기 개발이 이루어진 역사와 현존하는 생물학적 위협에 대해 분석하고, 생물작용제의 물리적 특성과 인체내 감염기작을 기초로 생물무기 공격으로 인한 사회적 영향을 예측하였다. 스벨드롭스크 탄저균유출사고, 아랄스크 두창발생, 2001년 탄저테러 등 생물무기관련 역사적 사례들에서 사고 인지형태, 작용제 오염확산범위와 피해자의 질병특성을 분석한 결과, 생물테러는 공격 즉시 인지가 어렵고, 광범위한 확산이 가능하여 대규모 노출자를 발생시키며, 호흡기관련 중증질환을 일으켜 보건 의료기관에 막대한 부담을 일으킬 것이라는 사실을 발견하였다. 이를 토대로 생물테러에 효과적으로 대응하기 위해서 요구되는 보건대응역량을 제시하였다. 효과적인 증후군감시체계 및 관련질병 보고체계를 운영하여 신속히 이상징후를 파악해야하며, 실험실진단체계를 통해 병원체의 확진을 실시하여야한다. 또한 보건기관은 역학조사 시 수사기관과의 공조를 통해 잠재적노출자를 명확히 규명하여야 하며, 마지막으로 인적 물적 자원을 효율적으로 운용하여 집단예방조치가 효과적으로 이루어지도록 되어야할 것이다. 이러한 보건대응역량을 지속적으로 강화한다면 생물테러위협에 성공적으로 대응할 수 있을 것이다.

Keywords

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  1. Factors Influencing Preparedness for Bioterrorism among Koreans vol.18, pp.10, 2021, https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18105401