Since the catastrophic events of Sept. 11, bioterrorism has become an increasingly important topic in the news. The use of biological agents as weapons of mass destruction has been a public health issue for some time. Credible Web resources for a variety of audiences are available that explain what these agents are, what they do and how the public can prepare for a possible attack.

UB's Health Sciences Library has a guide titled "Medical Aspects of Biological Warfare" http://ublib.buffalo.edu/libraries/units/hsl/ref/guides/bt.html. This excellent starting point leads to a variety of material, both on the Web and in print at the UB Libraries. The National Library of Medicine's MEDLINEplus Health Information Page on Biological and Chemical Weapons www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/biologicalandchemicalweapons.html includes the option to search the MEDLINEplus database, in addition to providing a set of important links. Another good starting place is the Selected Bioterrorism References page www.dhmh.state.md.us/eis6501/biotbiot.htm from the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

One of the most prolific publishers of material on this topic is the U.S. government. Several agencies are concerned with various aspects of bioterrorism, as demonstrated on the Web page for the National Domestic Preparedness Office www.ndpo.gov/, the clearinghouse for state, local and federal weapons of mass destruction information and assistance. From here you can link to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), among others.

From a public health standpoint, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services www.hhs.gov/ brings together the latest updates on policies regarding the government's response to a biological emergency. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention have compiled Public Health Emergency Preparedness & Response www.bt.cdc.gov/ detailing its role and addressing prophylactic treatment for various agents. The CDC's initiative includes the document "Biological and Chemical Terrorism: Strategic Plan for Preparedness and Response." According to National Public Radio, the CDC is receiving a million hits a day on its site. APIC www.apic.org/bioterror/, the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, has collected a prominent list of CDC articles in its "Bioterrorism News."

Institutions of higher education and non-profit organizations also are producers of educational materials concerning bioterrorism. The Center for Civilian Biodefense Studies www.hopkins-biodefense.org/ at the Johns Hopkins University Schools of Medicine and Public Health has "Agent Fact Sheets" and a library of both print and online materials. Another higher education institute is St. Louis University's School of Public Health, which sponsors the Center for the Study of Bioterrorism & Emerging Infections at http://bioterrorism.slu.edu/.

Professional organization Web sites often provide a unique perspective. The American Medical Association has created a Disaster Preparedness and Medical Response page www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/6206.html where you will find a variety of resources for physicians, including articles from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) and other medical journals.

The American Pharmacy Association is offering Pharmacist Response Center www.aphanet.org/pharmcare/ResponseCenter.htm, which publishes detailed information about antibiotics and other drugs for medical prophylaxis and management of biological casualties.

Finally, video resources are available from a variety of sources. All the major news networks have video clips of their reports on biological and chemical weapons in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. The NBC—not the network, but the U.S. Army's Academy of Health Sciences Nuclear, Biological & Chemical or Directed Energy Center—has training videos at www.nbc-med.org/SiteContent/training.asp?mode=video. Tech TV, a cable TV channel, has some interesting bioterrorism video available as well at www.techtv.com/news/culture/story/0,24195,3351901,00.html.