Guides for Emergency Response Biological Agent or Weapon Ricin

Probable Form of Dissemination Aerosol (plus many other exposure routes). Detection in the Field None. 

Signs and Symptoms Weakness, fever, cough, and hypothermia about thirty-six hours after aerosol exposure, followed in the next twelve hours by hypotension and cardiovascular collapse. 

Diagnosis If signs and symptoms spelled out above are noted in large numbers of geographically clustered patients, exposure to aerosolized ricin is the suggested cause. The rapid time course of severe symptoms and death would be unusual for infectious agents. Laboratory findings are nonspecific except for specific serum ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Acute and convalescent sera (plural of serum ) should be collected. 

Personal Protection Protective clothing must be used as well as protection for the respiratory tract by using a mask with biological filters, or self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with positive pressure, at least until you know the specific threat(s). 

Route of Entry to the Body Inhalation, Mouth, Sabotage of water supplies and foodstuffs. 

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Guides for Emergency Response Biological Agent or Weapon Ricin... 

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