title: Don't miss smallpox/plague outbreaks: adapt strategies to track bioterrorism.
abstract: Your strategy for tracking bioterrorism should focus on early recognition of unusual disease patterns, prompt notification of public health agencies, and informing staff about additional precautions to take if an outbreak is suspected. Instead of general awareness training, have a local expert address symptoms of a specific agent, such as smallpox. Post information about tracking patterns of illness in all clinical areas. Ensure that after-hours cases aren't overlooked by having staff report suspicions by computer or telephone.
mesh_terms: D023482:Bioterrorism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003219:Confidentiality; D018563:Disease Notification; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D010930:Plague / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D012899:Smallpox / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology