title: [Early dissemination of information: an essential ingredient in the prevention of biological warfare].
abstract: A primary prevention program is the most efficient component in the protection against biological warfare. This paper presents the early dissemination of information to the public and the interpretation of the biological threat as an essential ingredient in such a prevention program. This critical ingredient may dictate the success or failure of the protective actions. Early exposition of the threat to the public and explanation of its traits and direction to the coping process leads the public to adaptive coping behavior, thus ensuring lower prevalence of somatic and psychological casualties. The lack of such early detailed information about both the threat and the direction for coping behavior may lead to unadaptive behavior and a potential high prevalence of physical and psychic casualties, far beyond the treatment capacity of the medical system. Furthermore, it may lead to mistrust in the leadership, followed by the disintegration of the social system and the democracy.
authors.forename: Shabtai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noy
mesh_terms: D001694:Biological Warfare / Q000517:prevention & control*; D023482:Bioterrorism / Q000517:prevention & control; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007857:Leadership