Threat of Bioterrorism There are many reasons to believe that overruling of the possibility of bioterrorism in the country is a serious mistake. In fact, it is practically impossible to ignore the fact that in the recent past, there has been an escalation in the cases of bioterrorist attacks. However, this has not always been the case and many people were in denial of the possibility of anyone using such measures to cause harm. It was only after the fateful September 11 attacks over a decade away that shook the faith and created the one notion in the minds of Americans that this was real. A month later, a case of a man suffering from inhalational anthrax was trending (Rokach et al. 2010). This is the reason why the government is keen to take all measures necessary to curb the issue. However, the main question that arises in the issue is the readiness that the country has towards the occurrence of such an attack. Since then, there is adequate information on the internet for the public on the measures that the government is taking on the issue. As much as the government is taking considerable measures in the fight against bioterrorism, it is imperative that there is tightening of the policies and an increase in the personal security of everyone (Borrelli 2007).

It is extremely easy to have the assumption that the government has the ability to offer security against bioterrorism. Of course, the main backing for this assumption is the intelligence that the government has at the present. This is the main reason as to why many would suggest that the federal government take full responsibility for the protection of the country against the bioterrorist attacks. However, this is practically impossible. This is because of the huge number of people that are in the country presently. It is almost impossible for the federal government to take care of all these people effectively and on time. This is the reason why this duty is delegated to the local government. It is this branch, which has the biggest role in the offering of security to the people of America (Mellehovitch 2004). Therefore, reliance on the federal government would be a colossal mistake, as it does not have the ability to handle emergency attacks. This means that the role of handling bioterrorism attacks is best left entirely to the local government.

A major undoing that the society has in the fight against bioterrorism is the manner of handling the issue beforehand. Most of the cases focus only on the possibility of the terrorists attacking the public. However, it is blinding to have the notion that the attacks are only mass oriented. The problem with this approach is that all the measures that the country puts are all focused on the masses security. It is obviously easy to assume that the attackers would obviously use the masses as the best option. Through the infection of a source of water that is used by many people, this would affect exceeding many people (Mellehovitch 2004). This leads the government to take measures in the protection of the main water sources. However, this is not the only way that bioterrorism can take place. An attacker may choose to infect a water system in a building. This is most likely in a public place like a school or just a shopping centre. Owing to the poor attention the government is paying to such an attack, this is likely to have dire effects.

It is a monumental task to protect the country from bioterrorist attacks for the government. This is because of the inability to have proper predictions as to when the terrorists might make their next move. However, it is possible for the local government to put measures that can protect against random attacks. One of the most significant measures that the government can take is to help the managers of places that are highly likely to suffer from a bioterrorist attack. This is through the offering of help and support to protect all the areas that...

2010). In the places where it is possible, such buildings should use filters in their heating and air conditioning systems. It is also imperative to seek the services of trained personnel to regulate the access of the building. Whenever there are public events, the government could make it a requirement for the organizers to have extra security personnel with appropriate training in bioterrorism. Education to the masses is also another action that could prove vital in the fight against bioterrorism. In addition, through the assessment of internal procedures, the government could avoid all surprises that occur because of the mails and packages that are sometimes used in the transportation of such material.
It is only through following risk management that the government can assess the possibility of such attacks. However, the most influential action could be the offering of full support to the local health department and the health care department. These two should have the resources and ability to determine outbreaks and manage them. The public health departments have a massive role in the fight against bioterrorism. For one, the departments should identify all possible scenarios of cases that are likely to occur in the society (Crosse 2003). After the determination of these events, the departments should plan all the emergency actions beforehand. This is in order to ensure a coordinated and efficient response. The public health departments should also build the abilities that are imperative to the effective response to the consequences of some of these events. Through the risk assessment, the public health departments can also identify the nature of events beforehand. The ability to identify should not only be beforehand, but should also be when the events take place. The public health departments should also implement the response that was implemented earlier immediately there is an emergency. This is because it will lead to the quick and efficient response. Finally, the public health departments should put all measures to ensure that there is recovery from the incident (Borrelli 2007).

Apart from the public health departments, the local governments have a large role in the offering of support. Therefore, in order to achieve all these, then the local government has to play its part too. The local government can strengthen the ICT area. It is essential that the local departments have the ability to communicate well and effectively through modern technology (Evans & Lawrence 2006). This is especially the case when it comes to emergencies. Some of those that are most essential are the surveillance, which is necessary for security. High internet speeds and emails may come in handy in communication. Communication is particularly crucial even between the stakeholders. This increases the efficiency in the working relationships. In this case, it involves the community and the state health department. There are also some partners that the departments can bring on board in the process. They could be the FBI or the whole Department of Justice. The working relationships between all these require that there is excellent communication, which the local government should ensure that they provide efficiently (Evans & Lawrence 2006).

The local government has the role to educate various parties on bioterrorism and the effects that it may have on society. The healthcare and emergency response team should have proper education. The information that they should receive is on the identification of the attacks. Agents that the team should have full knowledge on in order to bring about these attacks are also offered in the education. This team should also have knowledge on the prophylaxis of the agents. This means that the team should have the ability to take care of the victims. In addition, the health care team…