Pets give bioterrorism warning signals
Emergency Management Alert, April 12, 2004
Unsure if it's a bioterrorism attack? The answer may lurk in your pet. The first casualties of bioterrorism attacks could be pets, not humans, the Associated Press reports.
If officials can recognize the signs in animals, this may help authorities respond to an attack before it evolves into a serious outbreak, says Maxene R. Armour, bioterrorism education coordinator for the Department of Agricultural Resources.
"A biological release of an organism for terrorist purposes might not be recognized right away, unlike a chemical release," Armour says. "It could be days or weeks before something's recognized."
Anthrax, plague, and viral hemorrhagic fevers such as Ebola would affect animals first, unless the weapon specifically targeted humans.
Armour suggests communities develop response plans for animals during an emergency.
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