Does Collin County have to worry about a bioterrorist attack?
Collin County is one of the fastest growing county within the State of Texas and within the United States. While this does not necessarily make it a prime target for a bioterrorist attack, the possibility of a terrorist attack anywhere in the United States is much higher today following September 11th. Residents should always be alert since Collin County is a vital population center within the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex.

Why is Collin County only planning for Smallpox and not other biological agents?
Currently, Collin County is preparing for any type of bioterrorist attack, not only just a Smallpox attack. Through our Strategic National Stockpile Distribution Plan, Collin County is capable of dispensing medication and vaccinating the county population in the event of a bioterrorist attack. Although Smallpox is currently most media attention, we have not overlooked other agents in our planning efforts.

How prepared is Collin County for a bioterrorist attack?
Collin County has a good plan for response to bioterrorism. Members of the Bioterrorism Response Team have spent several hundreds of hours meeting with stakeholders and planning/preparing for a response to a bioterrorism attack. The Bioterrorism Response Team will continue to update county plans, acquire response equipment and conduct exercises to advance our readiness.

Have biological weapons ever been used in the United States?
Yes, but rarely. Most recently, the East Coast of the United States experienced an Anthrax attack in 2001 killing 5 people. To date, there has never been a known bioterrorist attack in Collin County.

What should I do to be prepared for a bioterrorist attack?
The CDC cautions citizens from taking any drastic measures to prepare for a bioterrorist attack, such as buying gas masks or hoarding medicine. No such preparation is needed.

Prepare for a bioterrorist attack like you would for any other disaster: ensure you have a working flashlight, extra batteries, and several days' supply of food and water. Additional information can be found in the What Should You Do? Section or on the Department of Homeland Security website Ready.gov.

In the event of a public health emergency, local and state health departments will notify the public through the news media of the threat as well as provide instructions as to what actions individuals need to take.

Should I stockpile medication, such as antibiotics, against potential biological agents?
While preparing for a bioterrorist attack, be sure to have available additional medication available to treat any current medical conditions, in the event that you are unable to access a pharmacy.

However, you should NOT stockpile any medication or countermeasure used to treat or prevent a biological agent. Such medication includes antibiotics, Cipro, or Potassium Iodide. Incorrect use of such medication may result in serious adverse effects. In the event of a bioterrorist attack, Collin County will work quickly with the CDC and TDH to dispense medicines and vaccines to treat or prevent a biologic agent.

Are hospitals prepared to handle a sudden surge in demand for health care?
According to the CDC, the preparedness level of a hospital depends on the biological agent used in an attack. Since a sudden surge in demand could overwhelm an individual hospital's resources, local and regional hospitals are currently coordinating planning and preparedness efforts with other hospitals in order to respond to a bioterrorist attack. In order to further assist hospitals in a bioterrorism emergency, local medical care capacity will be supplemented with federal resources from the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile.

In general, hospitals are required to maintain disaster response plans and to practice applying them as part of their accreditation process. Due to the rising concern over a bioterrorist attack, specific plans for bioterrorism have been added to the latest accreditation requirements of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.

Should I buy a gas mask for my family?
No. Most gas masks would only protect you if you were wearing the gas mask at the time of an agent release. Considering most bioterrorist attacks are conducted covertly, you would never know when to wear your gas mask.

Gas masks can also pose numerous safety concerns. Gas masks can be dangerous to untrained users. Most gas masks must be properly fitted to the user and if used improperly, gas masks can cause serious injury or death.

Is it safe for me to drink water from the tap? Should I be disinfecting my water just in case?
The United States public water supply system is one of the safest in the world. You should continue to drink and use water just as you would under normal conditions. Your local water treatment supplier and local governments are on the alert for any unusual activity and will notify you immediately in the event of any public health threat. At this point, the CDC has no reason to believe that additional measures need to be taken.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working closely with the CDC and the U.S. Departments of Defense and Energy to help water agencies assess their systems, determine actions that need to be taken to guard against possible attack, and develop emergency response plans. For more information, visit http://www.epa.gov/safewater.

What should make me suspect a piece of mail?
According to the United States Postal Service, residents should suspect a piece a mail if:

• It's unexpected or from someone you don't know
• It's addressed to someone no longer at your address.
• It's handwritten and has no return address or bears an address that you can't confirm is legitimate.
• It's lopsided or lumpy in appearance.
• It's sealed with excessive amounts of tape.
• It's marked with restrictive endorsements such as "Personal" or "Confidential."
• It has excessive postage.

What do I do if I receive suspicious mail?
According to the United States Postal Service, if you have a suspicious piece of mail:

• Don't handle a letter or package that you suspect is contaminated.
• Don't shake it, bump it, or sniff it.
• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
• Notify local law enforcement authorities.

Additional questions and answers are available on the CDC FAQ website.