BW History Flashcards
Why are biological weapons unique?
made up of pathogenic organisms that reproduce and cause infection in a large number of hosts; inexpensive; dual use; depend on dissemination and dispersion; can be destroyed by external forces
What is a biological agent?
Microorganisms and toxins that could be used for manufacturing
biological weapons
What are biological formulations?
Compositions that include pathogenic biological agents or toxins and
other components to increase the effectiveness of biological weapons
What are biological weapons?
Weapons that are based on pathogenic microorganisms or toxic
substances of biological origin, formulated in such a way that they are
capable of disabling or/and killing people and livestock, as well as
munitions and delivery systems for deployment
Examples of biological agents?
bacteria, virus, toxin
What are pathogens?
microorganism that causes a disease in a host; can be a virus, bacteria, fungi and can infect humans or plants; produce toxins
Types of toxins
exotoxis - released from pathogen; endotoxins - remain inside until the pathogen dies and disintegrates
What is virulence?
the ability of a pathogen to cause disease and depends on the invasiveness and toxigencitiy of an organism
Levels of invasiveness
ability to grow well within the body and build up, widespread generalized infection; unable to grow but can still be virulent if it produces toxin
How to measure virulence?
cell culture, animals, humans; ID and LD50
Clinical phases of infection
infection, incubation, prodromal period, acute period, decline period, convalescent period
What is the incubation period?
the time between infection and the
appearance of disease symptoms
What is the prodromal period?
a short period following incubation in
which first symptoms appear
what is the acute period?
the period when the disease is at its height
Choices to examine when making weapons?
BWef = F {A, D, F, M, MT} - choice of agent, deployment method, formulation, manufacturing process, meterological & terrain
