What is Bioterrorism?
According to the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, bioterrorism is the intentional use of infectious biological agents, otherwise known as germs, to cause illness and spread terror.

In general, the first step in any incident is not to panic. Include bioterroism in your plan so that if it happens, employees will have a guide for their actions. Use reason and logic. White powder in the vicinity of a kitchen could be a food product such as flour or a cleaning agent. Identification of the substance might be as easy as asking a few questions of those nearby and finding out there was a spill. White powder in a work area could mean someone just finished a powdered doughnut. Asking a few questions may prevent an unnecessary interruption in your normal operations.

Preparation: Stockpiling antibiotics, even for key personnel in your organization is not recommended. First because they have a shelf life and may not be effective once that time has expired. Secondly, there is a risk of developing an antibiotic-resistant strain of common bacterial diseases. Antibiotics have side effects, some of which can be life threatening to certain people. Antibiotics can interfere with other medications. If an exposure occurs, local officials have in place the ability to administer the appropriate medication quickly and efficiently.

Purchasing gas masks is also not recommended. Gas masks are intended for short-term use and are only effective if worn at the time of the release. They need to be fitted properly to the individual and most prohibit eating or drinking without breaking the seal. Improper use of a gas mask can lead to accidental suffocation or other serious injury, especially in those with heart or lung disease.

The best preparation is a contingency plan similar to that for any other major disaster. Consider the basic needs of your employees and how you will meet those needs and protect them during an attack. Review insurance polices to be sure they include acts of war or terror in their coverage. Some do not.

Delivery of a Suspicious Package: A terrorist may use the USPS or another delivery service to deliver their package. Such a package may be discolored or emit a strange odor. Wires or aluminum foil may be visible or it may appear lopsided and uneven. The postmark may not match the return address. There may be excessive postage, handwritten or poorly typed address, incorrect titles, title but no name or misspellings of common words. It could be marked "Personal" or Confidential".  You may hear a ticking sound. There may be disparaging messages such as "death to America" written on the outside of the package or it may be marked with the name of the agent such as "Anthrax". There may be no indication of a problem until the package is opened and a white powder is visible. If your organization receives such a package don’t move it. Close doors and windows if possible to isolate the area. Keep others away and call 9-1-1. Make a list of individuals who received exposure and be prepared to provide that to emergency personnel.

Discovery of a Suspicious Agent: If a suspicious substance is discovered take the following precautions. Stay Calm. Don't move it. Seal the area if possible. Make a list of those who were in the room or could have been exposed. Call 9-1-1.

Release into the Air: If contamination occurs by aerosolization, stay calm. Turn off local fans and ventilation in the area. Leave the area immediately and keep others away. Close doors and windows to isolate the area. Call 9-1-1. Make a list of all who were in the room or could have been exposed. Shut down the air handling system in the building if possible.

Contamination of Water Supply: Most experts agree that water reservoirs are unlikely targets. The current methods used to filter water for human consumption are considered effective against most biological agents. In addition, the volume of water in any municipal water supply would significantly dilute a biological agent. This would lessen its ability to do harm.