PROBE: preparedness and response - online bioterrorism education: foundation knowledge training

Terrorism and the resulting geo-political state of affairs have created a need for health professionals to be well prepared for bioterror. In our socio-political climate we need a rational approach to managing public perceptions and need to be able to lead an appropriate response to suspected bioterror events. This website was created as a resource for public health professionals interested in learning how to be more effective at preparing for and responding to a terrorist attack using bioweapons. Who is involved: The Anton Breinl Centre for Public Health and Tropical Medicine (ABC) at James Cook University, has particular expertise in disaster/emergency management, biological agents that constitute the greatest threat, and the sociology of terror. The ABC was the first institution in Australia to develop a bioterrorism course. What is PROBE? The PROBE (Preparedness & Response - Online Bioterrorism Education) project designs and develops multimedia-based, interactive decision support simulation modules for training and support of health professionals in the management of bioterrorism events in an Australian context. PROBE modules provide knowledge and experience that to enhance ability to make timely and appropriate decisions to management of bioterrorism events. In the foundation chapters, students develop an awareness of the increased focus and attention on bioterrorism research and preparedness and explore the implications for the public health sector

An assessment of bioterrorism competencies among health practitioners in Australia

Public health and medical professionals are expected to be well prepared for emergencies, as they assume an integral role in any response. They need to be aware of planning issues, be able to identify their roles in emergency situations, and show functional competence. However, media perceptions and non-empirical publications often lack an evidence base when addressing this topic. This study attempted to assess the competencies of various health professionals by obtaining quantitative data on the state of bioterrorism preparedness and response competencies in Australia using an extensive set of competencies developed by Kristine Gebbie from the Columbia University School of Nursing Center for Health Policy with funding from the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. These competencies reflect the knowledge, capabilities, and skills that are necessary for best practice in public health. Sufficient data were collected to enable comparison between public health leaders, communicable disease specialists, clinicians (with and without medical degrees), and environmental health professionals. All health professionals performed well. However, the primary finding of this study was that clinicians consistently self-assessed themselves as lower in competence, and clinicians with medical degrees self-assessed themselves as the lowest in bioterrorism competence. This has important implications for health professional training, national benchmarks, standards, and competencies for the public health workforce

Inconsequential study on larvicidal efficacy on anise and celery seed extracts indicates that standards in bioinsecticide screening are necessary

The larvicidal activity of Pimpinella anisum (anise) and Apium graveolens (celery) seed extracts was evaluated against 4th instar Aedes aegypti larvae under laboratory conditions as per WHO methodology. Preliminary screening showed anise seed extracts to be more active than celery seed extracts and hexane produced the best extract of anise seeds giving a mildly potent lethal concentration of 403.84 mg/L. Other researchers have reported higher efficacies which cannot be explained by differences in extraction method or choice of solvent. Other probable causes of efficacy variability in phytochemical potency studies are discussed and bioinsecticide screening standards are recommended

Oviposition and olfaction responses of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to insecticides

Insecticide applications are not particularly effective on Aedes aegypti mosquitoes which has been attributed to their 'closet' behaviour, or ability to rest in places that remain unexposed to insecticides. Some researchers have suggested that insecticides repel mosquitoes, which would result in less exposure and increased dispersal. If repellence due to insecticides is a fact, acquiring a vector-borne disease, such as dengue, could legitimately be attributed to local vector control efforts and this would lead to restitution claims. This study thus investigated the effect of insecticide presence on mosquito behaviour indirectly via oviposition and directly via olfactory response. In all experiments, oviposition in each insecticide compared to its water and ethanol controls was not significantly different. This indicates that Ae. aegypti mosquitoes are not affected by insecticide presence and that increased dispersal is unlikely to be caused by vector control spraying

PROBE: Preparedness and Response - Online Bioterrorism Education: case study I

Terrorism and the resulting geo-political state of affairs have created a need for health professionals to be well prepared for bioterror. In our socio-political climate we need a rational approach to managing public perceptions and need to be able to lead an appropriate response to suspected bioterror events. This website was created as a resource for public health professionals interested in learning how to be more effective at preparing for and responding to a terrorist attack using bioweapons. Who is involved: The Anton Breinl Centre for Public Health and Tropical Medicine (ABC) at James Cook University, has particular expertise in disaster/emergency management, biological agents that constitute the greatest threat, and the sociology of terror. The ABC was the first institution in Australia to develop a bioterrorism course. What is PROBE? The PROBE (Preparedness & Response - Online Bioterrorism Education) project designs and develops multimedia-based, interactive decision support simulation modules for training and support of health professionals in the management of bioterrorism events in an Australian context. PROBE modules provide knowledge and experience that to enhance ability to make timely and appropriate decisions to management of bioterrorism events. In the foundation chapters, students develop an awareness of the increased focus and attention on bioterrorism research and preparedness and explore the implications for the public health sector. Throughout each case, you will be required to make decisions which will assess your current state of knowledge about the agent. If you obtain at least 75% in a section, you will be allowed to progress, otherwise, you will need to repeat the section until you pass. At the end, a Certificate will be issued with your name on it (providing that you entered your name). You will be able to print this Certificate up as proof of completio

Aedes aegypti disregard humidity-related conditions with adequate nutrition

Weather variations have clear associations with the epidemiology of dengue fever and populations of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Data on humidity associations, however, lags with respect to its effect on host-biting, nectar-seeking and survival. This experimental study on Ae. aegypti, sourced from the arid tropics, investigated the effect of low and high relative humidity and diet in relation to host-biting, temporal variations in feeding frequency, and mosquito mortality. In each environmental setting, 10 replicates, containing one male and five female mosquitoes, were challenged with different nutritional sources every six hours over 12 days. Results showed that host-biting did not diminish in low humidity and was six times higher than expected. Sucrose feeding was observed to significantly moderate host-biting and water alone was inadequate for survival. The high host-biting rates help to explain the intensity of dengue epidemics, while the ability of the mosquito to disregard adverse humidity-related conditions helps to explain how dengue epidemics in arid tropical regions can be just as devastating as those in the wet tropics

PROBE: Preparedness and Response - Online Bioterrorism Education: case study II

Terrorism and the resulting geo-political state of affairs have created a need for health professionals to be well prepared for bioterror. In our socio-political climate we need a rational approach to managing public perceptions and need to be able to lead an appropriate response to suspected bioterror events. This website was created as a resource for public health professionals interested in learning how to be more effective at preparing for and responding to a terrorist attack using bioweapons.\ud \ud Who is involved: The Anton Breinl Centre for Public Health and Tropical Medicine (ABC) at James Cook University, has particular expertise in disaster/emergency management, biological agents that constitute the greatest threat, and the sociology of terror. The ABC was the first institution in Australia to develop a bioterrorism course.\ud \ud What is PROBE? The PROBE (Preparedness & Response - Online Bioterrorism Education) project designs and develops multimedia-based, interactive decision support simulation modules for training and support of health professionals in the management of bioterrorism events in an Australian context.\ud \ud PROBE modules provide knowledge and experience that to enhance ability to make timely and appropriate decisions to management of bioterrorism events.\ud \ud In the foundation chapters, students develop an awareness of the increased focus and attention on bioterrorism research and preparedness and explore the implications for the public health sector.\ud \ud Throughout each case, you will be required to make decisions which will assess your current state of knowledge about the agent. If you obtain at least 75% in a section, you will be allowed to progress, otherwise, you will need to repeat the section until you pass. At the end, a Certificate will be issued with your name on it (providing that you entered your name). You will be able to print this Certificate up as proof of completion

PROBE: Preparedness and Response - Online Bioterrorism Education: case study III

Terrorism and the resulting geo-political state of affairs have created a need for health professionals to be well prepared for bioterror. In our socio-political climate we need a rational approach to managing public perceptions and need to be able to lead an appropriate response to suspected bioterror events. This website was created as a resource for public health professionals interested in learning how to be more effective at preparing for and responding to a terrorist attack using bioweapons.\ud \ud Who is involved: The Anton Breinl Centre for Public Health and Tropical Medicine (ABC) at James Cook University, has particular expertise in disaster/emergency management, biological agents that constitute the greatest threat, and the sociology of terror. The ABC was the first institution in Australia to develop a bioterrorism course.\ud \ud What is PROBE? The PROBE (Preparedness & Response - Online Bioterrorism Education) project designs and develops multimedia-based, interactive decision support simulation modules for training and support of health professionals in the management of bioterrorism events in an Australian context.\ud \ud PROBE modules provide knowledge and experience that to enhance ability to make timely and appropriate decisions to management of bioterrorism events.\ud \ud In the foundation chapters, students develop an awareness of the increased focus and attention on bioterrorism research and preparedness and explore the implications for the public health sector.\ud \ud Throughout each case, you will be required to make decisions which will assess your current state of knowledge about the agent. If you obtain at least 75% in a section, you will be allowed to progress, otherwise, you will need to repeat the section until you pass. At the end, a Certificate will be issued with your name on it (providing that you entered your name). You will be able to print this Certificate up as proof of completion

PROBE: Preparedness and Response - Online Bioterrorism Education: case study IV

Terrorism and the resulting geo-political state of affairs have created a need for health professionals to be well prepared for bioterror. In our socio-political climate we need a rational approach to managing public perceptions and need to be able to lead an appropriate response to suspected bioterror events. This website was created as a resource for public health professionals interested in learning how to be more effective at preparing for and responding to a terrorist attack using bioweapons.\ud \ud Who is involved: The Anton Breinl Centre for Public Health and Tropical Medicine (ABC) at James Cook University, has particular expertise in disaster/emergency management, biological agents that constitute the greatest threat, and the sociology of terror. The ABC was the first institution in Australia to develop a bioterrorism course.\ud \ud What is PROBE? The PROBE (Preparedness & Response - Online Bioterrorism Education) project designs and develops multimedia-based, interactive decision support simulation modules for training and support of health professionals in the management of bioterrorism events in an Australian context.\ud \ud PROBE modules provide knowledge and experience that to enhance ability to make timely and appropriate decisions to management of bioterrorism events.\ud \ud In the foundation chapters, students develop an awareness of the increased focus and attention on bioterrorism research and preparedness and explore the implications for the public health sector.\ud \ud Throughout each case, you will be required to make decisions which will assess your current state of knowledge about the agent. If you obtain at least 75% in a section, you will be allowed to progress, otherwise, you will need to repeat the section until you pass. At the end, a Certificate will be issued with your name on it (providing that you entered your name). You will be able to print this Certificate up as proof of completion