Unit 09: The Biological Threat Flashcards
What can a biological attack cause? (5)
Illness, Death, Fear, Societal Disruption, Economic Damage
What does a biological attack refers to?
An intentional release of a pathogen (disease-causing agent) or biotoxin (poisonous substance produced by a living organism) against humans, plants, or animals
What can biological agents be used for? (4)
- Incapacitate an individual or population
- Kill an individual or population
- Affect livestock
- Affect crops
True or False
Biological agents are less effective as a tactical weapon?
True
What makes biological agents less effective as a tactical weapon?
- They may take days or weeks before they are symptomatic
- They are difficult to control in terms of spread
What makes a biological agent an ideal terrorist weapon?
It can have an incubation period
Why does having an incubation period make biological agents an ideal terrorist weapon?
May allow the terrorist to deploy the agent and escape undetected
Why are biological attacks by a terrorist group not easy to conduct or practical?
- Because if they were, then history would likely be filled with many more occurrences of use by terrorist groups or hostile states
- Most of the experience deals with small-scale, limited attacks
In what year did the Japanese Army have three biological research centers?
1932
In what year did Great Britain take steps towards its own biological weapons research project?
1934
In what year did the Allies first test a bioweapon - Anthrax - against sheep?
1942
In what year did the US Bioweapons program begin?
1943
When was the Biological Warfare Convention (BWC) completed?
1972
In what year were members of a right-wing group found to be in possession of 30-40 kg of typhoid bacteria that were supposedly to be used to contaminate water supplies in the US
1972
In what year does the BWC officially go into force?
1975
How many nations are signatories of the BWC treaty?
79
In what year was a terrorist group found to be in possession of technical manuals on how to produce bioweapons?
1975
What are the two kinds of biological agents?
Transmissible and Non-Transmissible agents
What are transmissible biological agents? provide an example.
- Spread from person to person or animal to animal
- Ex. Ebola, Smallpox, Foot and mouth disease (animals), etc.
What are non-transmissible agents? Provide an example.
- They may cause adverse effects to exposed individuals and are non-contagious.
- Ex. Anthrax, and Botulinum toxin
What are the four classifications of Biological agents? (4)
- Bacteria (Single-celled organisms)
- Viruses (DNA or RNA requiring other host cells to replicate)
- Biotoxins (poisonous substances produced by living organisms)
- Rickettsia (micro-organisms that live in cells)
The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has identified and categorized diseases/agents as potential bioterror threats, what are they? (3)
A, B, and C threats
What are category A biological agents?
- Agents considered to be easily disseminated and/or contagious
- High mortality rates
- Might disrupt society
- Requires special attention for public health preparedness
What are the 6 types of dissemination?
- Aerosol
- Food or Water
- Human Carriers
- Infected animals
- Insects
- Physically distributed
What are the 8 indicators of a biological weapon?
- Similar to the indicators of chemical agents
- Microbiology textbooks or reference manuals may be discovered
- Containers used for transport
- PPE such as respirators, biological suits, gloves
- Excessive amounts of antibiotics
- Abandoned spray devices
- Unusual sprays being disseminated, especially at night
- Multiple patients in a given area displaying similar signs of illness
What are the advantages of using biological weapons? (7)
- Low cost of production for many agents
- Small quantities might have dramatic effects
- Deadly and/or incapacitating effects on susceptible population
- Agent formulations may be easily disseminated
- Difficulty in diagnosing
- Can result in fear, panic, social disruption
- symptoms can mimic naturally occurring diseases
What are the disadvantages of using biological weapons? (6)
- Biological weapons may affect the health of the aggressor
- Agent desired may be difficult or impossible to acquire
- Weather conditions directly affect dispersion
- Weather conditions lessen the survivability of some organisms
- May not generate immediate attention due to incubation
- Advanced technology required to produce most formulations
What does decontamination do during a response to a biological threat? (6)
- Plays a lesser role as compared to chemical contamination
- Agents are non-volatile and not dermally active
- Small particle sizes = less residue on surfaces
- Low risk of re-aerosolization forming due to wind, vehicular traffic, or other mechanical agitation
- Environmental decontamination on a case-by-case basis
- Removal of clothing, washing with soap and water-99.99&
