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
What to consider in choosing an agent?
Bacteria, virus, toxin; contagious; incapacitating or letal; mortality dose
Choices to examine with attack efficiency?
Aef = f{Do, Co, St, TS} - concentration, dose, stability, target susceptibility
What to examine when considering Co = concentration
processing, liquid slurry/power, size of material, number of organisms, biological decay
Things to consider with TS
naive population, type/location of target, vaccines, personal protective equipment
Methods of deployment of BW
infected vectors, contamination of food/water, various articles, aerosols, explosive dissemination, infect crops
Factors affecting efficacy
concentration, contact time, pH, temp, light, presence of other materials = external
Size of aersol particle to get stuck in the eye
18-20 microns
Size of aersol particle to get stuck in the pharynx
15-18 microns
Size of aersol particle to get stuck in the trachea
7-12 microns
Size of aersol particle to get stuck in the bronchiiole
4-6
Size of aersol particle to get stuck in the alveolus
1-3 microns
Differences between biological and chemical weapons
more toxic and higher contagion potential; bio unstable; sual use nature and clandestine activities; limited treatment w/ anitbiotics/virals/vaccines; bioweapons are strategic
Issues with the Geneva Protocol
prohibits use of chem/bio weapons but not research and development; can’t verify or enforce compliance; countries refuse to sign
Unit 731
Japan, during WWII and practices biowarfare against china; human test subjects, posioned Soviet water sources, dropped bags with plague infested fleas in China
Iraqi program 1980s
Accelerated in 1990s; 1991 - weaponized anthrax, botulinum toxin,flatoxin and had bombs and missiles armed with the toxins
Soviet Union Biowarefare History
largest biological weapons program in the world at the Leningrad Military Academy and Solovetsky Island; suspected of using tularemia and thypus, Q fever; capable of deploying weapons in 1956; 1980 - massive expansion of offensive program
What is Biopreparat
created in 1973, Rusians agency for bioweapons
What was Sverdlovsk
outbreak of anthrax in 1979 killing 70 and only allowed us to visit in 1992
End of Soviet BW program?
1990 - Biopreparat capacity destroyed; 1992 - Yeltsin banned offensive bioweapons and cut funding
Agents likely to be used by Soviets
Smallpox, Plague, Anthrax, Botulism, VEE, Tularemia, Q Fever, Malburg, Flu, Melioidosis, Typhus
