Distinguishing the use of a biological weapon from a natural outbreak of disease may be difficult for doctors. Clues to a deliberate rather than a natural origin of a disease outbreak include the following:
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Cases of diseases not usually seen in that geographic area
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Unusual distribution of cases among segments of the population
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Significantly different illness rates between those inside and those outside buildings
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Separate outbreaks in geographically diverse areas
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Multiple simultaneous or serial outbreaks of different diseases in the same population
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Unusual routes of exposure (such as inhalation)
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A disease that normally affects animals occurring in humans
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A disease that normally affects animals arising in an area where that animal species is not usually present
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Unusual severity of disease
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Unusual strains of infectious agents
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Failure to respond to standard therapy
The symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of people with the following diseases caused by high-risk biological weapons are discussed elsewhere in The Manuals:
Doctors may need to isolate people exposed to a biological weapon and place under quarantine people known to have been in contact with an exposed person.
