You are a research analyst for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The department has received credible intelligence from the NSA, FBI, and Department of Defense that Al Qaeda is planning a biological attack using smallpox against Los Angeles, CA. Although the dispersal method is unknown, it is believed the most likely method will be airborne, through a populated shopping mall's ventilation system.
The lax security at these locations, coupled with a wide social and economic population sampling, will make identifying victims and stopping the spread of the disease difficult. The intelligence indicates that the attack is scheduled to occur within 7-10 days.
Your department has been tasked with reviewing historical incidents of smallpox, including academic assessments of its use as a biological agent for terrorism. Use the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's smallpox Web site as a guide to available resources and current planning (CDC Smallpox Information). With these tools, develop a communication plan that addresses the following:
Assignment Guidelines
• Revise and amend your Week 4 Key Assignment by adding what you learned in the Discussion Board posts following the task, as well as taking into consideration your instructor's comments.
• Address the following with regard to the above information, and add your responses to your Key Assignment final draft:
o Provide an overview of the threat (disease characteristics).
o How can mass hysteria be prevented within the population?
o What should the federal government share with the state, and can this information be controlled?
o What should the federal government share with the city, and how can this information be controlled?
o What should the federal government share with the nation?
o When should information be disseminated to each recipient (state, city, and nation)?
o What should be the characteristics of this information's release to the public (consider medium, frequency, and timeliness)?
• Be sure to reference all sources using APA style.