Terrorism AwarenessQuestion 193 of 200
Biological attacks differ from chemical attacks in detection because:
a.Biological agents are always odorous and visible
b.Biological attacks always produce immediate mass casualties
c.Biological agents typically have an incubation period (hours to weeks) before symptoms appear, so initial detection often comes from disease-pattern surveillance by public health rather than scene observation
d.Biological agents only affect animals, not humans
Explanation
Most biological agents (anthrax, plague, smallpox, tularemia, viral hemorrhagic fevers, botulinum toxin) have incubation periods ranging from hours to several weeks, so unlike chemical attacks (where casualties often appear immediately), biological events frequently come to light through epidemiological surveillance — unusual clusters of disease, deaths exceeding expected patterns, or geographically unusual cases. Officers may, however, notice abandoned dispersal devices or letters with unknown powders. Most biological agents are not odorous/visible (a); they do affect humans (d); casualties may emerge gradually (b).
Law Reference: CDC bioterrorism indicators; Strategic National Stockpile guidancePractice all 200 questions free — no signup required.
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