ABSTRACT
Bioterrorism is the malicious introduction of biological agents such as viruses, bacteriaand toxins into a civilian population. The most likely scenario for a bioterrorist attack would be a covert and unnoticed release of a biological agent into a major urban centre (Tucker, 1997; CDC, 2000). In such a situation it will be the civilian system, and in particular local hospitals, community physicians and the public health system that are the first detector and first responder (Franz et al., 1997; CDC, 2000). An appropriate response by emergency departments and hospitals could significantly limit the morbidity and mortality of biological warfare agents (Richards et al., 1999).
