| | BIOTOX (B)
In late November 2001, the Council of Ministers approved the Belgian BIOTOX Plan, a prevention plan for biological and chemical security. The plan includes preventive measures to prevent infection or contamination and curative measures should it occur. The measures include the establishment of a specialist laboratory (operational 24 hours a day), a permanent station with specially trained doctors, the updating of manuals which are distributed to all emergency services in the country, the formation of stocks of vaccines (primarily against smallpox) and medicines, the establishment of channels of communication between the specific monitoring units and primary healthcare workers, consultation between laboratories specialising in particular conditions, special monitoring of food, drinking water and (potentially) cattle, organised consultation with the postal services and so on.
The complete BIOTOX Plan has been publicised among doctors (GPs and occupational physicians) via the medical press.
For each medical condition in Group A, a group of experts has drawn up a document describing the symptoms, diagnostic means, treatment and other measures. This document is sent out electronically to all hospitals and to GPs and occupational physicians who request it. Together with other documents, it is made available via a website which has been specially developed for these issues.
To receive the electronic version of these documents, one can register by e-mail. Send your mail to CMVE.GP@health.fgov.be with the word "inschrijving" in the "subject" field.
The technical information sheets are extensive, and cover several dozen pages. They cover anthrax, Q-fever (zoonosis), the plague, tularemia and (above all) smallpox or variola.
Target Audience: Occupational physicians, occupational hygienists
Type of information:
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