BIOLOGICAL TERRORISM

Donald W. GriffithsUniversity of West Florida

What You Need to Know About Anthrax!

A Self Assessment Quiz

Instructions

You will need to have paper and pencil. One question will be presented per slide. When you think you know the answer write it down then proceed to the next slide until complete.

The final slide presents an answer key. If you miss more than 4 questions, please review the material and try again.

This will give you a good general knowledge of how anthrax can be used as a biological weapon and what to do if you suspect anthrax.

1. Regarding the history of anthrax, which of the following events occurred in 1915? (Learning Objective 1.1)

a. In Iraq, approximately one million sheep were killed by anthrax.

b. German agents injected horses, mules, and cattle with anthrax on their return to Europe from the United States.

c. An anthrax epidemic occurred in Zimbabwe that infected over 6,000 people, killing well over 100 people.

d. Great Britain experimented with anthrax on Gruinard Island off the coast of Scotland.

e. The Japanese began biological weapons testing in Manchuria that included the use of anthrax.

2. Regarding the history of anthrax, which of the following events occurred in 1937? (Learning Objective 1.2)

a. In Iraq, approximately one million sheep were killed by anthrax.

b. German agents injected horses, mules, and cattle with anthrax on their return to Europe from the United States.

c. An anthrax epidemic occurred in Zimbabwe that infected over 6,000 people, killing well over 100 people.

d. Great Britain experimented with anthrax on Gruinard Island off the coast of Scotland.

e. The Japanese began biological weapons testing in Manchuria that included the use of anthrax.

3. Regarding the history of anthrax, which of the following events occurred in the 1950s and 1960s? (Learning Objective 1.3)

a. With information gathered from the Japanese and our allies, the United States worked on our own biological warfare program at Fort Detrick, Maryland.

b. An anthrax epidemic occurred in Zimbabwe that infected over 6,000 people, killing well over 100 people.

c. In Iraq, approximately one million sheep were killed by anthrax.

d. Great Britain experimented with anthrax on Gruinard Island off the coast of Scotland.

e. The fifth and sixth plagues of Egypt.

4. Regarding the history of anthrax, which of the following events occurred in the 1969? (Learning Objective 1.4)

a. An anthrax epidemic occurred in Zimbabwe that infected over 6,000 people, killing well over 100 people.

b. The Food and Drug administration approved a vaccine for anthrax that was primarily intended for those working with livestock that might be at risk.

c. President Richard Nixon put an end to our offensive biological weapons program.

d. The Soviet Union accidentally released aerosolized anthrax that spread from a military facility into a neighboring community killing 68 people.

e. An international convention outlawed stockpiling of biological weapons.

5. Which of the following is the correct definition of bacteria? (Learning Objective 2.1)

a. Round, spiral, or rod shaped single-celled micro-organisms that may be gram positive or gram negative.

b. Round, spiral, or rod shaped multi-celled micro-organisms that may be gram positive or gram negative.

c. A type of virus.

d. Spores.

e. Politicians.

6. Which of the following characteristics belong to anthrax? (Learning Objective 2.2)

a. Anthrax is a bacteria that is a gram-positive, non-motile (unable to move around on its own), spore forming rod-shaped organism.

b. Anthrax is a bacteria that is a gram-negative, motile (able to move around on its own), spore forming rod-shaped organism.

c. Anthrax is a bacteria that is a gram-positive, non-motile (unable to move around on its own), non-spore forming spiral-shaped organism.

d. Anthrax is a genetically engineered virus.

e. They play heavy metal and speak with a New York City accent.

7. What are spores? (Learning Objective 2.3)

a. Bacteria.

b. Fungus.

c. Virus.

d. Bacteria.

e. Reproductive structures.

8. Which of the following signs and symptoms describe cutaneous anthrax? (Learning Objective 3.1)

a. A papule that progresses through a vesicular stage before becoming a depressed black necrotic ulcer called an eschar.

b. Severe abdominal pain follows along with the possibility of vomiting with blood and a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity.

c. Non-specific symptoms that include malaise, fatigue, muscle aches, and fever.

d. Sudden onset of respiratory distress with labored breathing, stridor (a shrill noise), bluing of the skin, increased chest pain, and severe sweating.

e. All of the above.

9. Which of the following signs and symptoms describe gastrointestinal anthrax? (Learning Objective 3.2)

a. A papule that progresses through a vesicular stage before becoming a depressed black necrotic ulcer called an eschar.

b. Severe abdominal pain follows along with the possibility of vomiting with blood and a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity.

c. Non-specific symptoms that include malaise, fatigue, muscle aches, and fever.

d. Sudden onset of respiratory distress with labored breathing, stridor (a shrill noise), bluing of the skin, increased chest pain, and severe sweating.

e. All of the above.

10. Which of the following signs and symptoms describe inhalational anthrax? (Learning Objective 3.3)

a. A papule that progresses through a vesicular stage before becoming a depressed black necrotic ulcer called an eschar.

b. Severe abdominal pain follows along with the possibility of vomiting with blood and a buildup of fluid in the abdominal cavity.

c. Non-specific symptoms that include malaise, fatigue, muscle aches, and fever.

d. Sudden onset of respiratory distress with labored breathing, stridor (a shrill noise), bluing of the skin, increased chest pain, and severe sweating.

e. Both c and d.

11. Which of the following mortality rates belongs to cutaneous anthrax? (Learning Objective 3.4)

a. 25-60%.

b. 20% when untreated and 1% when treated with antibiotics.

c. 97% when untreated and 75% when treated with antibiotics.

d. 60% when untreated and 20% when treated with antibiotics.

e. Too scary to think about.

12. Which of the following mortality rates belongs to gastrointestinal anthrax? (Learning Objective 3.5)

a. 25-60%.

b. 20% when untreated and 1% when treated with antibiotics.

c. 97% when untreated and 75% when treated with antibiotics.

d. 60% when untreated and 20% when treated with antibiotics.

e. Too scary to think about.

13. Which of the following mortality rates belongs to inhalational anthrax? (Learning Objective 3.6)

a. 25-60%.

b. 20% when untreated and 1% when treated with antibiotics.

c. 97% when untreated and 75% when treated with antibiotics.

d. 60% when untreated and 20% when treated with antibiotics.

e. Too scary to think about.

14. Which of the following is not a genetic enhancement that could be made to anthrax? (Learning Objective 4.1)

a. Genetic enhancements to make it more resistant to antibiotics.

b. Genetic enhancements to make it easier to handle.

c. Genetic enhancements to make it deadlier.

d. Genetic enhancements to make it easier to deliver in the mail.

e. Genetic enhancements to make them politicians.

15. Which of the following descriptions could be powderized anthrax? (Learning Objective 4.2)

a. Yellowish powder.

b. Black powder.

c. Brown powder.

d. Grayish-white powder.

e. Any of the above if coloring was added.

16. Which of the following could be used as an aerosolized delivery system for anthrax? (Learning Objective 4.3)

a. A bomb.

b. A crop duster.

c. A fire extinguisher

d. A heating and ventilation system of a building.

e. All of the above.

17. Which of the following could be used as a delivery system for anthrax? (Learning Objective 4.4)

a. Mail.

b. Cigarettes.

c. Makeup.

d. Food.

e. All of the above.

18. Which of the following are key elements for reporting suspected anthrax exposure? (Learning Objective 5.1)

a. Identifying yourself and your location only.

b. Identifying where the suspected anthrax is located and a description of the suspected anthrax.

c. Identifying yourself, your location, and if you and others have been exposed.

d. Identifying yourself, your location, where the suspected anthrax is located, a description of the suspected anthrax, and if you and others have been exposed.

e. Identifying yourself, your location, and where Jimmy Hoffa is buried.

19. Which of the following is the Incident Command System? (Learning Objective 5.2)

a. The 9-1-1 system.

b. The law enforcement dispatch system.

c. The ambulance dispatch system.

d. The fire department dispatch system.

e. A flexible tool for command, control, and coordination of emergency services.

20. Which of the following is the correct sequence from lowest to highest level of the Homeland? (Learning Objective 5.3)

a. Low, guarded, high, elevated, severe.

b. Guarded, low, elevated, high, severe.

c. Low, guarded, elevated, high, severe.

d. Low, guarded, high, elevated, severe.

Answer Key

1.b.

2.e. 3.a. 4. c.5.a. 6.a. 7.e. 8.a. 9.b. 10. e.

11. b. 12. a. 13. c. 14. d. 15. e. 16. e.

17. e.

18. d.

19. e. 20. c.

Correct Incorrect Score 20 0 100 19 1 95 18 2 90 17 3 85 16 4 80

Please review and retake the quiz if you scored less than 80.