title: Biological threats to America's health.
abstract: Nurses are critical in the public health role of conducting disease surveillance and contact tracing, administering vaccines or prophylactic medications, implementing restrictive measures, and collecting specimens for analysis. Currently, a window of opportunity exists where nursing can set forth a framework for action. Limited research presently exists in this new area of biodefense, and nurses can make a difference. This special issue of Biological Research for Nursing provides some insight and guidance into an area of study that is unfamiliar to many health care providers.
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Talbot
mesh_terms: D023482:Bioterrorism; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging; D003625:Data Collection; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D024802:Nurse's Role; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011634:Public Health; D012637:Security Measures; D014481:United States; D014611:Vaccination