Vaccines for Category A bioterrorism diseases.
Vaccination programmes are very successful as a preventive strategy against many infectious diseases which have had a major impact on human morbidity and mortality. One of these diseases, smallpox, has been eliminated as a natural infection. The recent concern about biological attacks has turned attention to the use of an immunisation programme to prevent infection with what are considered the most significant potentially harmful biowarfare pathogens. This review puts into perspective the available information on current immunisation and newer vaccine options for anthrax, smallpox, tularaemia, plague and botulism.
Lutwick
Larry I
LI
Division of Infectious Diseases (IIIE), Veterans Affairs New York Harbor Healthcare System, 800 Poly Place, Brooklyn, New York 11209, USA. larry.lutwick@med.va.gov
Nierengarten
Mary Beth
MB
D000818:Animals; D000881:Anthrax / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D023482:Bioterrorism; D001906:Botulism / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D032541:Mass Vaccination; D010930:Plague / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012899:Smallpox / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014406:Tularemia / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014612:Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D014612:Vaccines