1st Edition

Understanding Biological Emergencies From Bioterrorism to Pandemics

By Paula Stamps Duston Copyright 2025
336 Pages 2 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

336 Pages 2 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

336 Pages 2 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

This book investigates the links between the main sources of biological emergencies and presents a comprehensive policy framework that seeks to achieve the ultimate goal of biological security. The work offers a new interdisciplinary approach to analyse the linkages between the three main sources of biological emergencies: intentional attacks, natural zoonotic transmission, and lab accidents.... Read more

Part I:  Setting The Context  

Chapter 1 Should We Be Worried?      

Chapter 2:  Using Nature to Build A Weapon   

Chapter 3  Science, Society and Safety   

Part II:  What Can We Learn From the Past?

Chapter 4:  Scientists, Culture, and Ideology      

Chapter 5:  From the Lab to the Battlefield—and Beyond  

Part III:  Select Agents:  Yesterday and Today

Chapter 6  Keeping Track of Risky Pathogens

Chapter 7  Most Common:  Anthrax

Chapter 8  The Most Feared:  Smallpox     

Chapter 9  Threats From Other Select Agents

Part IV:  Bioterrorism Comes to the U.S. 

Chapter 10 Anthrax Spores in the US Postal System 

Part V:  What We have -- and What We Need

Chapter 11  New Policies Reflect Changing Risk Assessment 

Chapter 12  From Policy to Implementation: The Biological Emergency Response System 

Chapter 13  How Are We Doing? Dimensions of this Wicked Problem         

Chapter 14  Solving the Puzzle:  A Comprehensive Biosecurity System

Biography

The late Paula Stamps Duston was Professor Emeritus and Graduate Program Director, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts/Amherst, USA. She had 20 years’ experience of teaching and working with students, doctors, nurses, public health and public safety professionals to increase their understanding of bioterrorism and the emergency preparedness system. She was author of five single-authored books, including Analyzing Form, Function and Financing of the US Health Care System (2016). She passed away in 2024.