Clinical recognition and management of patients exposed to biological warfare agents

Concern regarding the use of biological agents as tools of warfare or terro rism has led to measures to deter their use or to deal with the consequence s. Unlike chemical agents, diseases resulting from biological agents have i ncubation periods of days. Rather than a paramedic, it will likely be a phy sician who is first faced with evidence of the results of a biological atta ck. This article provides an updated primer on 11 classic biological warfar e and potential terrorist agents to increase the likelihood of their being considered in a differential diagnosis. If the cause is identified quickly; appropriate therapy can be initiated and the impact of a terrorist attack greatly reduced.