Bioterriorism Protection Team: 96 School: Santa Fe High Area of Science: Biology
Interim: SUPER COMPUTING CHALLENGE
Santa Fe High School
Team #96: Bryanna Peña, Wendi Garcia,Gabriel Pacheco, Justin Cummings
Sponsoring Teacher: Anita Nugent
Area of Science: Biology
Interim Report – Bioterrorism Protection in Hospitals
Definition of the problem
Understanding that the United States government is concerned about the heightened threat to its citizens, measures should be taken to reduce the level of threat in communal environments. In order to further explore the practical nature of reducing the threat of bioterrorism, a specific model was examined to evaluate measures necessary to reduce risk.
The threat of bioterrorism in highly volatile environments is of highest priority. Identifying areas where a large number of people gather within limited boundaries would be the targeted zone; therefore these areas would be considered protected targets.
Heightened security needs to be implemented into the daily routine of organizational settings. Specifically, an alarm would alert personnel when the air quality within the hospital environment is outside of established parameters. With adequate warning, immediate action would take place to protect human life.
All of the VHF (Viral Hemorrhagic Fever) viruses are infectious by aerosol and could conceivably be used by an adversary as a bioterrorism agent.
Plan for solving the problem
At the Federal level there are many government agencies charged with developing a coordinated bioterrorism response plan. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is the primary federal agency responsible for the nation’s health and medical response.
Progress
A Netlogo simulation has been constructed to demonstrate the path of the viral agent in the ventilation system in the hospital. As the agent is being released, a monitor will detect the threat and the control monitor will engage.
Expected results
The programmed model will be used to test the efficiency of the installed safety monitor. This system will be vital to the protection of various entities in setting where additional precautions should be implemented. The model will be used to demonstrate the efficiency and practical nature of the solution.
Citations
Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC)Bioterrorism Working Group http://www.apic.org
CDC Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Program http://www.bt.cdc.gov
Team Members: Bryanna Peña
Wendi Garcia
Gabriel Pacheco
Justin Cummings
Sponsoring Teacher: Anita Nugent Mail the entire Team |
