Community reaction to bioterrorism: prospective study of simulated outbreak.
To assess community needs for public information during a bioterrorism-related crisis, we simulated an intentional Rift Valley fever outbreak in a community in the southern part of the United States. We videotaped a series of simulated print and television "news reports" over a fictional 9-day crisis period and invited various groups (e.g., first-responders and their spouses or partners, journalists) within the selected community to view the videotape and respond to questions about their reactions. All responses were given anonymously. First-responders and their spouses or partners varied in their reactions about how the crisis affected family harmony and job performance. Local journalists exhibited considerable personal fear and confusion. All groups demanded, and put more trust in, information from local sources. These findings may have implications for risk communication during bioterrorism-related outbreaks.
DiGiovanni
Cleto
C
National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA. cdig@july.dgsys.com
Reynolds
Barbara
B
Harwell
Robert
R
Stonecipher
Elliott B
EB
Burkle
Frederick M
FM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D023482:Bioterrorism / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004189:Disaster Planning; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States