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Outside of a few professional groups and some military personnel, there is a very poor understanding of BWs. Bacteria and viruses are often perceived by the public to be invisible agents that have the ability to attack at will and spread from person to person and against which there are no means of self-protection. In the event of a real or threatened BW attack, many unaffected people will attribute various nonspecific symptoms to toxins or infectious agents. When a BW agent is suspected and a call for assistance is made, the emergency response will cross jurisdictions and may include fire personnel, emergency medical service (EMS), law enforcement, state and federal agencies, and public health departments.