TY - JOUR AU - Kaufmann, Arnold F. AU - Meltzer, Martin I. AU - Schmid, George P. T1 - The Economic Impact of a Bioterrorist Attack: Are Prevention and Postattack Intervention Programs Justifiable? T2 - Emerging Infectious Disease journal PY - 1997 VL - 3 IS - 2 SP - 83 SN - 1080-6059 AB - Understanding and quantifying the impact of a bioterrorist attack are essential in developing public health preparedness for such an attack. We constructed a model that compares the impact of three classic agents of biologic warfare (Bacillus anthracis, Brucella melitensis, and Francisella tularensis) when released as aerosols in the suburb of a major city. The model shows that the economic impact of a bioterrorist attack can range from an estimated $477.7 million per 100,000 persons exposed (brucellosis scenario) to $26.2 billion per 100,000 persons exposed (anthrax scenario). Rapid implementation of a postattack prophylaxis program is the single most important means of reducing these losses. By using an insurance analogy, our model provides economic justification for preparedness measures. KW - United States DO - 10.3201/eid0302.970201 UR - https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/3/2/97-0201_article ER - End of Reference