Definition
- Biological disasters are caused by processes or phenomena of organic origin or conveyed by biological vectors, including exposure to pathogenic microorganisms, toxins, and bioactive substances that may cause loss of life, injury, illness or other health impacts, property damage, loss of livelihoods and services, social and economic disruption, or environmental damage. For example – pandemics.
Types
- Epidemics – Epidemics are an unexpected, often sudden, increase of a specific illness within a community or region.
- Pandemics – Pandemics are when an epidemic occurs worldwide, crossing international borders and affecting a large number of people.
Prevention and Preparedness:
- Legislative framework – Epidemic Diseases Act, Air Act, Water Act
- SoP development for different threats like handling threats in laboratories.
- Robust surveillance system – Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme of India
- Vulnerability Analysis and risk potential of existing diseases.
- Capacity building –
- Health infrastructure, laboratories
- Healthcare professionals
- Research and development
- Environment Management- Vector control strategies and monitoring.
- Enhanced International cooperation- documentation, vaccine/ pharmaceutical development.
- Livestock management, risk analysis in livestock.
Response
- Recognition and diagnosis
- Communication of surveillance information and warnings.
- Epidemiological analysis to identify the source of the biological agent.
- Public health measures
- Pharmaceutical
- Treatments
- Non-pharmaceutical
- Social distancing
- Isolation, quarantine