16.3 Biological attack or outbreak

A biological attack may go unnoticed for days: symptoms appear when people get sick, and the alert comes from public health. That is why what you do depends on official instructions: where to get treatment or a vaccine, who must isolate, what symptoms to watch for.

Before

• Vaccines up to date for the whole household.
• N95 masks in the kit (and backup cloth filters).
• If you can, a high-efficiency air filter (HEPA) in your air system; HEPA filters capture most biological agents that enter the home (Ready).

During

• Stay indoors, preferably with filtered air, and away from crowds.
• If you see a suspicious substance: move away, cover your nose and mouth, wash with soap and water, and notify authorities. Without a mask, several layers of cloth (T-shirt, handkerchief, towel) or disposable tissues can help.
• Suspicious letters or packages (powder, stains, odor, unfamiliar sender): do not open them, shake them, or sniff them. Leave them where they are, leave the room and close it, wash your hands with soap and water, and call 911.

If you were exposed

1. Take off your clothes and personal items, put them in a bag, and follow official instructions for disposing of them.
2. Wash with soap and water and put on clean clothes.
3. Seek medical care: there are treatments for some biological threats. You may be asked to stay away from other people.
4. Watch for symptoms without panicking; do not take antibiotics on your own.